Planning a plane trip with a small baby is not an adventure for the timid. It used to be that airlines would pretty much wave families with infants through quickly but now all documentation and security requirements apply to every traveler. The need for a passport applies to babies too and obtaining infant passports means preparing at least a couple of months prior to the departure date. It is a requirement that all first time passport applicants, including children, must appear in person at a center authorized by the U.S. government.
Before taking the trip to the issuing office, one piece of business needs to be handled and that is getting two identical photos of the baby for the new passport. These photos should be 2”x2” and have the baby’s full face with eyes open to the camera. It is quite probably a good idea to have someone well versed in the requirements for these pictures to take them so there are no mistakes.
Both parents or legal guardians listed on the child’s birth certificate must accompany the child to the passport agency and an official copy of the certificate must be presented, a photocopy will not be accepted.. If only one parent has legal custody, he or she must also present documentation to prove this. The actual application can be obtained online and filled in prior to the personal visit, but both parents must sign in front of the authorized agent.
If applying for the passports for kids through a government issuing office, the cost will be between $80.00 and $85.00, depending on the location. There are, however, expediting services that can be found on the Internet that will hurry the process along for a nominal fee above the processing charge due the government. The normal wait time for a standard passport of this type is between four to six weeks when using the standard application procedures.
Flying alone is a chore in and of itself and the addition of a baby can make it an experience to remember. Doctors will advise against travelling by air with a child that is 2 years old or younger. The reason for this is that they are much more prone to infections and planes with their re-circulated air systems can be a breeding ground for germs and colds. Preventative measures before travel may be taken by the parent by visiting their pediatrician first.
Airlines in general, are quite helpful to parents that are travelling with babies or small children. They will offer services such as carts to the gate due to the extra carry on items needed for baby maintenance and will usually offer a pre-boarding option to these parents. Be sure to allow more than enough time to get through the lines at security along with being ready and in the gate area when the pre-board is announced.
Most airlines do not require children under age two to have their own seat; they are permitted to sit on an adult’s lap. While this is obviously a cost savings, it bears a personal cost-benefit analysis, both regarding the safety of not having a baby in an infant seat and the parent’s ability to comfortably hold a child, especially on a long flight. There are seldom empty seats on domestic flights so if the child does not have seat, chances of finding an extra are slight.
You’ll find that U.S. passport may seem like an odd thing to be required but they are easy to get with a little forethought. This is one sure fire way to prove, should a parent and child become separated, that the child actually belongs with the parent. By going online, all the necessary passport documentation and other requirements may be found before ever reaching the issuing office.