And check regulations for getting a passport for young child/infant regarding parents presence/permission. This also keeps changing. At one point both parents needed to be present at time of application, then they allowed certified something to substitute. And it is a nightmare if child is not living with both biological or legal full custodial parents or adoptive parents - regardless of reason for absence of other parent. All designed to prevent parental abductions and they make sense, but just make sure you get informed about who has to be where and sign what with what certification.

UPDATE - in case anyone else needs to know this info.

We received our baby's birth certificate this past Friday - just under 4 weeks. But we were still concerned about his social security card, but it arrived today - 1 month after his birth. Granted, this is in Virginia, so it probably varies from state to state. We also ordered 2 of the birth certificates at the original order since we send one with the passport info - just to be safe.

Now all we need is the photo, and we're ready to send it off. Will post another update once we have the passport in hand.

Personal family experience with this issue -- and sorry I didn't see this earlier to report it.
Baby born and express birth certificates were ordered at that time (received in less than 2 weeks). Air tickets w/ name (knew gender before birth) already issued so getting passport quickly didn't pose problem. Appointment made at passport processing center since flight departure was within 2 weeks. Had air tickets, birth certificate, passport photos, baby and both parents available. Took all day to process and wait for passport, but came home with passport in hand. Child was under 4 weeks old w/ passport and first flight home. Didn't have the need for a social security card which arrived much later. All went smoothly.

"gail" - how did you get a SSN verbally for your child? It would help one of the couples going with us to be able to do that.

I need to add one more thing to previous post.
The international airline used required ticket for infant at discounted price, which hence, required a name on the ticket at time of purchase.

If you go to the social security office they can write down the number for you even if they can't give you a card. You just have to have either the birth certificate, or if you don't have that yet, you need the baby's hospital papers.

Got number verbally by calling Social Security office - not really sure why we needed it - perhaps for filing taxes. But anyway, it was wrong - could have been our mistake since it was confusing a 1 for a 6 and it may have been a handwriting issue.

Thanks, gail and kelliebellie, for the extra info. That's what I needed to know. For one couple, it will help speed the process if they can get a verbal SSN for their baby to proceed with the passport.

I received an email today from the social security office. They told me that a social security number is not required for a newborn. You can put "applied for" in the SSN blank and it will be accepted.

Not sure if that sounds correct or not. On the passport website, there's no "exclusion" for newborns for the SSN requirement.