Originally Posted by
erik123
It's going to be tough as there is a huge backlog so best plan accordingly. Where are you traveling? Some exemptions seem to exist for kids with a certified birth certificate.
It's a renewal, not a first USA passport. With proof of immediate travel (usually within two weeks, longer if one needs to apply for visas), a passport agency will issue the new passport in person the next day and sometimes the same day (for example, for emergency travel).
Of course, it never hurts to bring excess documents with you, so the parents would be wise to bring the birth certificate if they have one.