Getting baby's 1st passport?

[BurbGirl2013]

Hi all
I'm still pregnant due in just over 2 weeks with our first.
We have booked flights to go to France to spend Christmas with family, including baby, 3 weeks after my due date.
I know some may have strong opinions about travelling with a newborn this soon, but the flights just under an hour, we have booked an entire row at back of plane or my DP and mum and are hoping to do it.

If I'm on time or even 1 week late I know we'd have time to get the passport - say 1 week to even get given the passport appointment in London and another week for the 1 week fast track to reach us. If I approach 2 weeks overdue that's when it gets panicky!!

I wandered if anyone has used the passport fast track service recently whether for you or baby and how quickly you got given an appointment?
Thanks

we recently had a good experience at Max speilman having newborn passport photos taken. £10 for 8. I suggest getting the form filled in as much as possible and writing yourself a post it note with the bits to add in case your brain is addled. eg write the cheque ready.

also research the birth certificate bit. for both our DDS they were born in birmingham but the register office there is mad busy with a 4 week or so delay to have the appt. for both births a (different) neighbouring county could do the paperwork by proxy and we had the birth certs within a week. might be a quicker way.

I hope you manage it, but dont be too disappointed if you dont.

isn't it the case (or is this urban legend) that you can get the birth registered at some (certainly not all) hospitals?
Might be worth going down that road?

Personally, I think your biggest hurdle isn't the passport application process or the photos - I've had really good experiences with both - it's with getting the birth certificate within a few days of the birth.

IMO your first call should be to your register office to see how this can be done (I would tell them there is some family reason why you NEED to be there personally, emergency etc) and get them on your side.

If you manage to get the birth cert done asap after the birth then I don't think you'll have a problem, though it will be very annoying to have to sort out the photos etc so soon after you've given birth (when you're sleep deprived and constantly feeding, and can't get dressed in the morning without 5 people helping you).

Just don't shilly shally over the baby's name or you're done for!

Hi all
Thanks again for your honest advice and great tips.
Blueberry you have given me renewed hope....

I contacted local birth certificate office and explained, lovely woman emailed to say no way book in advance but they have a drop in start of day, every day for non appointments where people will be squeezed in and get a certificate there and then, max wait 45 mins! So 1 less hurdle down.

Had last NCT class ths week and really hit home don't have a frigging clue about babies/parenting or how ill feel until it actually happens, few hours of being teary and feeling scared/hopeless but feel better today. Thanks all

We've just booked flights to take DD, wasn't allowed to book flights without p/port no ...

As said BA def 100% allow it with a newborn, thanks.

I'm sorry you have been feeling teary (maybe an labour sign!) I think even if you have had 1 baby you never know how the next one is going to be in terms of feeding and sleep (and they don't do much apart from feed and sleep)

My advice is to have no expectations, the same with birth, just take each hour/day/week as it comes and it will be fine :)

Thanks missponty! Still feel like a child myself...time to finally grow up!