Question about Embassy processing time for child's US passport

I was wondering if anybody has had a recent experience with the US embassy and how long it took them to get your child's passport issued to you. (I wasn't quite sure where to post this question)
I have an appointment at the embassy on Tuesday, and I just wanted to know if the 15 working day estimation was accurate. I want to travel to America in November with my baby, but I am hesitant to book anything before I get her US passport. (We just got her English one) I know I can apply for an emergency passport if I have a travel itinerary, but I would prefer to just get the real one.
If anyone can share their embassy experience, I would greatly appreciate it! 

We did our daughters first passport at the Embassy this time last year and we had her passport delivered by SMS exactly 1 week after our appointment. I would just recommend using the courier service offered by the Embassy rather than getting a Royal Mail Special Delivery envelope because of the Postal Strike. It was something like £14 but well worth it.

We applied in May of this year and got the passport back within 10 days.  I would second the recommendation on using the courier.

Sort of in this thread-I also need to do this for my baby.  I know the US are specific about the passport photo and I am not anywhere near the suggested places on the embassy list (I live in Norwich.) Where did you get/how did you do the photos? Do any high street places adjust photos to size?

Thanks-Katherine

I just used our local camera shop and they printed them out to the Embassy's specifications (2"x2"). Since they're done digitally and we needed a specialst to do them because our daughter was only 3 months old when the pics were done. I believe the cost was £3.99. I know that Snappy Snaps does them as well if you have one in your area.

Thank you for the advice! We will definitely be using the courier service! 

we went in Jan and had it a week later.

Goulds is good for baby photos and they are cheap and close to embassy

We went to the embassy yesterday to renew my 7 year old son's passport and was really pleased we left in under an hour. 

We went around this time last year and had it back a week later I think.  We used Snappy Snaps for her photos if you have a branch near you.

kintheuk - I know someone in Norwich who recently got US passports for her twin girls, I'll ask her where she had them done.

SlicesMissus-If you know of the place in Norwich, that would be great.  I've been quoted 15 pounds for both the UK and US passports!

Another question-I had a look at the site for the passport application. Did anyone have to prove they'd been in the US long enough for their child to be American? I lived there for 25 years but don't have a ton of proof-college graduation/old passport.  Also can you bring in some stuff? I'm breastfeeding so that's not a problem but obviously need plenty of nappies and change of clothes.  Lastly (sorry!) do you get in around the time of appt? We'd need to travel from Norwich, so would need time to get there, etc.

thanks!

They didn't ask me for any other proof other than my birth certificate and my old passport and then just looked at the dates I had put on the form.

The appointment we had was at 2.30pm, we got to London by 11am and made our way down to the Embassy area and then had lunch in a cafe nearby and had a coffee in Starbucks and then got in line for security at 2pm, we were out by 3.50pm.

You have to go through security where if you bring in mixed formula you have to taste it and all our drinks we had to taste in front of them. We brought in the pushchair, the changing bag and my backpack with all our stuff in it. The only thing that they held at security were our mobile phones and hubby's electric cigarette.

Thanks for your experience!

Do you have to have your birth certificate? I don't have mine but have my US university diploma/old passport (but passport doesn't show five years in the US.)

You don't have to have a Birth Certificate, since your passport states where and when you were born (assuming you were born in the US) so you should be fine. Here is the page from the Embassy that states what documents you'll need to do the Consular report.
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/acs/passports/robirth4.html
It states that old passports are the preferred method of verifying time in the US:

In addition to the documents listed above, you may be required to provide proof of your physical presence in the U.S. before the child's birth. Please submit old passports, if available, as evidence. If unavailable, other evidence, such as school transcripts, may be accepted.

The oldest passport I have I got three months before I moved here.  That would probably explain why our waiting time was longer than most people and why I seemed to get quizzed longer (where'd you go to Uni?  When did you graduate?).  We still got them and it wasn't a huge problem. 

The oldest passport I have I got three months before I moved here.  That would probably explain why our waiting time was longer than most people and why I seemed to get quizzed longer (where'd you go to Uni?  When did you graduate?).  We still got them and it wasn't a huge problem. 

Could have been the reason. I was already on passport #2 when we did ours in 2008.