Category Archives: Pilot Wife
My Best Tips & Recommendations for Flying/Vacationing with a Baby or Toddler (from a Pilot Wife)
We’ve just returned from a great week-long family vacation to San Diego! I’ll be sharing a full recap & itinerary next, but today is specifically about the tips and products that I’ve discovered make a HUGE HELP during travel with an infant, baby or toddler.
Brynnley just turned 2 last week (!!!) and I’ve been taking her on commercial flights since she was just 4 months old! She’s been to Arizona twice, Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, and Oklahoma. Each trip, I’ve picked up new products and new strategies to make it smooth for everyone. Especially because my daughter is particularly stubborn when it comes to sleeping in unfamiliar places, and we have made a full 180° since the first few trips we took with her!
Tips for Flying with Babies & Toddlers
Seat Assignments:
Until your child turns 2 years old, they can fly for free as a lap infant. However if the flight is not fully booked, the gate agent has the ability to adjust your seat assignments and give your baby their own seat for free. This might mean you need to move to a different row than you previously booked, but the extra space is so worth it! You can bring your carseat onto the plane and safely buckle your baby or toddler into their seat, freeing up your lap and hands.
We’ve always listed Brynnley as a lap infant but I would say about 60% of the time she has ended up getting her own seat anyways. It never hurts to ask! Go chat with your gate agent as soon as you get through security. If they aren’t able to accommodate a seat for your baby, they will make you a tag for your car seat and stroller to be gate-checked for free as you board.
Ear Pressure:
The best way to help keep your baby or toddler comfortable while the pressure changes during take-off and landing is keeping them continually sucking. For babies, you can nurse, bottle-feed, or offer a pacifier. I always had a bottle of milk saved to offer as soon as the plane started speeding down the runway and have never had an issue with Brynnley acting uncomfortable.
Once Brynnley turned 1, I switched to bottles with water during take-off and landing but sometimes she preferred to just suck on a pacifier which also seemed to do the trick. Lollipops are another option for kids who are old enough!
*One thing that’s important to note is that every airline is different, but I have never flown on any US carrier that had milk as a beverage option on the plane. If your child drinks regular milk, you’ll need to bring your own on to the plane which means you might need to purchase some at a market or coffee shop within the airport.
Flight Attendants Can Help You:
The first time I flew with Brynnley by myself, she was 4 months old. I had my carry-on suitcase plus my diaper bag. I also used a travel bag for my breast pump and extra bottles, which doesn’t count against you with carry-on items because it’s classified as a medical device. I had Brynnley in her carseat which still attached directly onto her stroller at that time.
Within 5 minutes of arriving at the airport, I was already in need of about 6 more hands. To get through security, the TSA agent required that I take sleeping Brynnley OUT of her car seat (really?! Couldn’t he see how peacefully she was sleeping?!) and hold her through the metal detector. After I woke her up (I’m still annoyed at this haha) to hold her, I was expected to somehow hoof the car seat onto the security table and collapse the stroller to do the same thing. The TSA agent showed no signs that he was even considering coming over to my side of the table to help me. Thankfully the passenger in line behind me had the common sense to see a new mom with her hands full and took care of getting all of my belongings through the security belt for me. If the passenger in line behind you isn’t so socially aware, you are going to need to be ready to ask for some help.
Similarly, once I boarded the flight I was lucky enough to have an extra seat next to me for Brynnley so I was able to set her in her car seat. However bringing on a carseat with a baby, a rolling luggage, diaper bag, and breast pump bag, is still more than 2 hands can handle which is why I’m so thankful that the flight attendants are typically more than willing to offer their help.
(Did you know that flight attendants are not getting paid for any of the time that passengers are boarding the plane? Same with the pilots, although both are expected to be present and available for their passengers. Flight attendants and pilots are paid hourly, ONLY during the time that the airplane doors are closed. The entire boarding process is completely unpaid which still blows my mind that this is legal.)
Once during the four-hour flight with Brynnley by myself, I needed to use the restroom but Brynnley was sleeping soundly in her car seat and it’s not like airplane lavatories have much room to bring a car seat into anyways. I called a flight attendant who was more than happy to come sit in my seat to keep an eye on Brynnley for the 3 minutes I was away. If you are a mom flying by yourself, I know not everyone is comfortable with using strangers for help but in this situation it can be pretty necessary. And I was fortunate enough that this was a Boise-based airline crew that works for the same company as my husband, so I felt comfortable enough with them.
On a different trip, I flew with Brynnley by myself when she was 13 months old and we didn’t get so lucky to land an empty seat for her. She had to stay on my lap for the full flight, but this was right when she was learning to walk and was very interested in being mobile. Before the plane even took off, I was struggling with keeping her content on my lap. She just wanted to move and crawl!
By a stroke of luck, I happened to be seated next to a very kind older couple on their way to the Caribbean who said they were patiently waiting for their own kids to give them their first grandchild. Brynnley was extra squirmy in my lap, and kept reaching for the stranger next me. The woman said “I don’t mind holding her, if you’d like?” Again, I know passing your baby to a stranger is rarely going to be something moms are comfortable with but in this case the woman seemed friendly and warm, and I was struggling to keep Brynnley content in a 9 cubic-foot space so I gladly accepted the help and Brynnley loved sitting on the new woman’s lap. They read some of Brynnley’s books together and practiced clapping, and Brynnley enjoyed the flight much more having two laps to roam across. Not that this situation is likely to happen to everyone, I’m just sharing this story to say that being open to assistance is something that has always helped me have smoother travel days.
Diaper Bag:
You’re going to want to make sure you’ve recently restocked your diaper bag for the travel day. In addition to your usual diaper bag items, I’d also pack:
- A couple extra changing pads because you can only imagine how germy the changing tables in an airplane and airport will be.
- A pack of sanitizing wipes as well, especially for your tray table since your little one will most likely be eating off of it.
- An extra outfit for baby AND mom. You never know when they are going to spit up on you, and right after take-off seems to be a pretty popular time for a gnarly blow out ;)
- You are allowed to bring breastmilk and formula through security, even if it exceeds the usual 3.4 ounce limit. The TSA agent will just take a sample to test.
- Plastic or zip-lock bag for any soiled or wet clothes that you can’t attend to until you’re at your destination. (Honestly on a travel day with so much to juggle already, I would probably just throw away a blowout outfit…)
- Did I mention sanitizing wipes?
- More sanitizing wipes.
You can also check out this video I recently uploaded to my YouTube channel with my top tips and items to pack for travel with a baby or toddler:
Here are links to some of the items I mentioned in the video:
Airplane Entertainment Activities for Littles:
- Water WOW Coloring Books: I love that these can be re-used so many times, and have a few different pages for your child to “paint” or “color” with just water! Mess free and no pieces to lose!
- Crayola Magic Marker Coloring Sets: Similar to the Water WOW books, these coloring pages are mess-free because the magic markers only color on the special papers included. Not on skin or fabric!
- Wikki Stix: Super lightweight and small to fit in your travel bag, these are waxy sticks that can be molded into whatever shape your child can imagine. Brynnley especially likes making eyeglasses with them.
- Magnetic Puzzle Book: Brynnley is a puzzle lover! The book has three different puzzles, but the entire book is magnetic so the pieces stick strongly to it and help prevent you from losing pieces!
- Reusable Sticker Books: toddlers love stickers! These can take up quite a good chunk of time and help work on your toddler’s language skills at the same time.
- Kids Amazon Fire Tablet: we try not to rely on screens for the majority of the travel time, but they definitely come in handy once your activities are getting old and the snacks have run dry. I don’t usually bother figuring out the inflight wifi, I just make sure to have a couple episodes of Brynnley’s favorite shows downloaded to the device. The battery on this lasts a very long time!
- Kids Tablet Carrying Case: This is the travel case for the tablet that we have. It comes in a couple different colors.
- Toddler Over-the-Ear Bluetooth Headphones: Headphones are required when listening to anything on your device on an airplane. These are wireless so you don’t have to mess with tangled cords, and they connect with bluetooth to the tablet we have. They look so cute on Brynnley!
- Portable Charger: You might want a portable charger in your travel or diaper bag, and this one is super compact.
Travel Items for Baby/Toddler Sleep & Safety
- Portable Blackout Curtains with Suction Cups & Travel Bag: Brynnley is used to a dark room for naps and bedtimes, but most AirBnB’s and rental homes don’t have blackout curtains in their guest rooms. These blackout travel curtains have suction cups around their perimeter to easily secure onto a window and completely block out daylight. They fold up small and fit into a travel bag that is included. We bought a set to keep at my parent’s house when the babysit!
- Blackout Pack n’ Play Cover for Infants: This is a stretchy breathable material cover that fits over the pack n’ play with a few different windows that can be zipped open or shut. It blocks out daylight for a dark sleeping environment but would really only work until your baby is able to stand up. Once they are mobile and standing, I would opt for the tent listed next.
- Blackout Pack n’ Play Pop-up Tent: There is a popular brand of blackout pop-up tents called Slumberpod, but it has quite a high price tag! We tried this less expensive version, and haven’t had any complaints about how it fits over the pack n’ play and blocks out ample daylight. We love it!
- Car seat Travel Bag/Protector: When you fly, the airline will check your carseat and stroller right as you board for free. It is not required to have a case or bag for your carseat but it is something I would recommend! Many carseat bags are $15-20 and will help keep your baby’s items from getting dirty or scratched.
I think that covers my major products and tips that are now must-haves for us on travel days. Anything I missed that you’re curious about? Leave me a comment! I’m happy to cover any more specifics if there’s something you are interested in!
As someone who has always loved to travel and explore, as well as someone who’s spouse flies almost daily and offers flight benefits, I didn’t want to let the fear and unknown of traveling with a baby keep us from having great experiences. I’m proud of how much we have done with Brynnley, and it definitely gets easier each time!
Alright, I’ll start writing up our San Diego family vacation recap and itinerary and get that posted here next. Thanks for reading!
Love, Kenz
Our Favorite Places in Boise & Surrounding Areas to Eat, Drink, Play, and Relax!
We live in a suburb about 15 miles outside of Boise city limits, and we love exploring all around the Treasure Valley! This area has grown exponentially in the past few years, so if visiting Idaho is on your radar then I’ve rounded up my family’s favorite coffee shops, restaurants, bars, outdoor recreation spots, annual events and things you can’t miss!
My husband is born and raised in Idaho, and my parents and I have lived here for 8 years. We all love going out to eat and prefer local or unique spots over chains! So everything I include in my list of recommended spots is going to be local, and I’m going beyond what you’ll find on the front page of TripAdvisor or Google. Hope you find some hidden gems to enjoy here!
Boise-Area Coffee Shops
- Flying M Coffee Garage in Nampa: The downtown Boise location is great too, but I like the “garage” aspect of the Nampa one which also has more outdoor seating options on nice weather days!
- Coffee & Supply Co. in Eagle: This bright coffee shop has lots of local merch you can purchase alongside your cafe items. It’s menu seems to have more unique concoctions than your average coffee stand.
- Rembrandts in Eagle: What’s fun about this one is that it’s in a renovated white church. It recently had a redesign and is now more of a full restaurant, but there is still a coffee bar you can sit at.
- Big City Coffee in downtown Boise: You come for the coffee but you stay for the big a*$ scones. The bakery goods in this cafe are HUGE! Such generous portions, and it’s “family style” seating so you’ll most likely find yourself at a table with other total strangers. But – you’re in Boise, so they’re most likely very friendly ;)
- Hyde Perk in Boise: This coffee shop is in a very posh and desirable neighborhood called The North End. You can grab your drink and walk around the cute houses and shady streets, or head up over to Camel’s Back park!
Favorite Restaurants in Boise (and surrounding towns)
- Italianesque in Nampa: Our favorite Italian restaurant in the Treasure Valley. Everything is house-made and fresh.
- Fujiyama Sushi in Meridian: This has become my favorite sushi in the valley, and I looove sushi. Their menu is HUGE, although all the rolls start to sound the same after 40+ of them. Really great quality food and service, but know that the restaurant itself is a little funky since it’s in an old diner! We usually get take-out. (When I gave birth to my daughter, this is where we ordered take-out for my first sushi in 9 months and it was heavenly.)
- Matador in downtown Boise or Meridian: This is a Mexican restaurant with two locations. When it comes to authentic Mexican food….you have to remember that you’re in Idaho. Haha. But this is pretty dang good, and they have great margaritas!
- Coa de Jima in downtown Boise: Funky, eclectic, bougie. I celebrated my birthday dinner here in 2023 with surf & turf. This would be for a nicer/fancier dinner out and there is plenty to look at with their unique interior decor!
- Mesa Tacos in Nampa: Probably one of our most-visited restaurants since living here. Who doesn’t like tacos? I like that you order your tacos a la’ carte so you can try 3+ different flavors and they come filled to the brim!
- Tower Grill in Nampa: A special little restaurant to us because it’s where Zeb proposed and they catered our wedding dinner. It’s open to the public but it’s located in the Nampa Airport. Don’t let the bland building fool you, the food is excellent.
- Crave Kitchen & Bar in Eagle: This is a really fun spot for a birthday or girls night. I’ve celebrated both here, and the atmosphere is perfect. They have a GIANT 6-layer cake with different flavors on every layer that’s really fun to share for special occasions!
- Bardenay in Eagle or downtown Boise: Fun fact: This is the first distillery in the U.S.! The Boise location is in the Basque Block, which a Spanish culture and community. The Eagle location is right on the greenbelt and Boise river, so both are equally great!
Favorite Bars in Boise (and surrounding towns)
- Payette Brewery in downtown Boise: I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like Payette! It’s super dog-friendly and kid-friendly, and the best part is how close it is to the Boise greenbelt. There’s a big turf outdoor seating area so this is a favorite spring-fall meet-up spot.
- Heritage Hop Haus in downtown Meridian: We started going here when we were first dating because they have fun weekly trivia nights. I’m not a beer drinker, but they have about 40 different beers on tap to try or make your own flights out of. It’s in the basement of a building and it’s just a really fun bar on Main St. in Meridian with a little sushi restaurant upstairs.
- Craft Lounge in Nampa or Caldwell: A speakeasy! They now have two locations, though the Nampa one is more of a speakeasy and the Caldwell one is more of a classy bar. They take mixology very seriously and have really moody atmospheres.
- Bodovino in downtown Boise or Meridian: This is a wine bar with a unique vending-machine style concept. You pre-load a Bodovino gift car, and use it to self-pour at each of the wine bottle stations. You can select 1 oz., 3 oz., or 5 oz. pour from the machine. So you can create your own little tasting of whatever wines you want to try! It’s super fun and interactive. Plus low-risk if you don’t end up liking some of the wines you tried.
- Yard Arm in Boise: This is a summer-only outdoor bar in a shipping container that’s been cut in half to form a bar! This is right off the greenbelt, so we usually do a long bike ride and make this a stop at the end (or middle). It’s got a beachy theme set-up & a food truck.
- Sand Bar in Boise: Just a couple paces down from the Yarm Arm, mentioned above. This is also a greenbelt stopping point, but this also has a full food menu as well as live music on the weekends. We like to pick one of these spots for outdoor summer weekends next to the Boise river!
- Sunnyslope Winery Trail: I can’t not mention the winery area in Caldwell which has rolling hills and about 20 different wineries. There are a few different companies that do winery tours, which is what we’ve done for my bachelorette party and one Mother’s Day. My favorite wineries to visit are Sawtooth, Williamson & Koenig. However St. Chapelle is really popular because of its picturesque gazebo.
Favorite Recreation Activities:
- Hiking and biking trails at Avimor: This is just outside of Eagle, Idaho and encompasses a new subdivision development but also access to some great hiking trails in the hills with lots of wildlife and wildflowers! We specifically hike the Spring Creek Trail.
- Walking the greenbelt at any part of it’s 44-mile stretch: we like to park at Ann Morrison Park in Boise because it has instant access to the greenbelt, plus public restrooms, park area and a splash pad for littles. It’s also walking distance to Payette Brewery if you want a cold one after your exercise!
- Check out Freak Alley in downtown Boise: You can’t walk around downtown Boise without walking through Freak Alley between 8th Street and Bannock. It’s local graffiti art that periodically changes!
- Hiking Stack Rock near Bogus Basin: This is one of my favorite local hikes we’ve done, but I wouldn’t call it a beginner trail. It’s about 9-10 miles roundtrip, so pack a lunch to have at the top. It’s beautiful from start to finish and well-shaded, with a really cool rock tower at the finish!
- Bogus Basin Mountain Coaster: I wrote a blog post about this when I was doing my “30 Things To Do Before Turning 30” bucket list, but Bogus Basin Ski Area has a ton of fun activities to do in the summertime. Including this mountain coaster that’s speed is entirely in your control!
- Kleiner Park in Meridian: this is one of my favorite parks because of the convenient parking, and the ability to walk across the street to coffee, shops, and restaurants. It has a disc golf course and some ponds for fishing.
- Pickle Ball at Settler’s Park: This is becoming my new favorite park as I have a toddler, because of their awesome splash pad and playground area. It’s got a large walking path but they also just recently put in several pickle ball courts.
Favorite Annual Events in the Area:
- County Fairs: Both the Western Idaho Fair in Boise and the Canyon County Fair in Caldwell are annual events for us, specifically because of the concerts! We aren’t big fair food or ride people, but we definitely love the country and rock bands that are included in admission.
- Jackson Country Stomp Concert: I don’t think I’ve missed a Jackson Country Stomp since I’ve lived here! It’s an outdoor country concert with 4 different performers that are usually all great artists you’ve definitely heard on the radio.
- Stampede Rodeo: This is a big indoor rodeo at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa that goes on for a full week. Each night is themed! I like to get there early and watch the mutton busting, which is little kids lasso-ing sheep. Some of them are as young as 4 years old!
- Caldwell Night Rodeo: Another annual rodeo, but this one is outdoors. We go every year!
- Warbird Round-up Airshow: In Nampa airport, next to the Tower Grill that I mentioned in the Restaurants section, there’s a WW2 aviation history museum called the Warhawk Air Museum. They host an annual air show that brings in WW2 planes, and the museum team dresses in 1940’s outfits. They play music from that time period, usually have a speaker, and the best part is that my husband is usually one of the pilots in the air show!
- Hyde Park Street Fair: I mentioned Hyde Perk in my coffee section, but this is a really pretty and historic neighborhood in Boise called The North End. The little row of restaurants and shops is really quaint and charming, the houses are iconic in this area, and there’s a popular park that backs up to the foothills. The annual fair brings thousands of people for different art vendors, live music, performances. (Parking is a pain!)
- Spirit of Boise: this is a really fun event if you’re in town, but I wouldn’t plan your trip around it. Many of the years that we have gone to spectate the giant hot air balloons all ascending at the same time, the event was cancelled last minute due to weather. But if mother nature cooperates, it is very lively and super popular!
- Snow Tubing at Eagle Island State Park: Eagle Island is a large park that’s open all year long with a pond for fishing, little “beach” for kids, and a disc golf course. We’ve had our professional family photos taken here many times! However in the winter, they bring in snow and create a giant slide with inner tube rentals. It’s a ton of fun!
- Lowe Family Farmstead Fall Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch: This is a fall season staple! It’s got really elaborate corn mazes, and tons of fall festival outdoor activities. We’ve always gone even before we had a kid of our own!
- Spring on the Farm: this is springtime event for those of you with kids at the same Lowe Family Farmstead location as above. It’s open for a short window in the springtime when the farm animals’ babies all arrive. Part of it is open for petting, like the chicks and goats and lambs. There are long-horns and calves, though they are just for viewing and not petting. There are food vendors, games like corn hole, and tractor wagon rides. Super cute for little ones!
- Christmas time at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell: there is an ice skating rink, live music on weekends, but my favorite part is the elaborately decorated pathway along the Indian Creek with lit tunnels and Christmas decorations.
Favorite Places Within 2 Hours
These all require a little drive outside of the Treasure Valley, but are worth it to enjoy more scenic parts of Idaho!
- The Springs – Hot Springs: There are many hot springs around Idaho. Some are more remote and rural, which might be more your vibe. But I don’t like the risk of driving all the way out and having them already be full. The Springs in Idaho City, about 30 minutes outside of Boise, take reservations and even have private spring pools. Plus you can order food and drinks!
- Shoshone Falls: This is two hours away from Boise and nicknamed “Niagra Falls of the West.” We like to bring a picnic here and enjoy the peacefulness of this majestic view!
- Lake Cascade for water activities or camping: Lake Cascade is about 2 hours north of Boise and has tons of campgrounds around the perimeter. I suggest making reservations online. You get to enjoy the beauty of nature, but have the cute town with local restaurants and the Tamarack Resort really close by!
- Zip Lining in Horseshoe Bend: I took Zeb here for one of his birthdays, and it’s such a fun half-day activity. It’s about 30-45 minutes out of Boise which takes you up into some mountains and forest.
- Winter Carnival in McCall: McCall is a mountain resort town 2 hours north of Boise and we love visiting in the summer, especially! Lake activities, lots of hiking, camping, great restaurants. However in the winter, it becomes a wonderland and hosts an annual week-long carnival. One of the unique aspects of it are the giant ice sculptures all throughout the town. You can grab a map of the sculpture locations online and make a day of checking out each one of the 20+ frozen art pieces! We loved this!
- Huckleberry Festival in Donnelly: Another small town just before Cascade and McCall, this small mountain town hosts a really cute festival around the beloved huckleberries in the summer. I’ve run the 5k race a couple times. Each time, I placed 1st for women and won homemade huckleberry pies! There’s a parade & lots of huckleberry treats.
- Bruneau Sand Dunes: This is an Idaho State Park near the Mountain Home Air Force Base, about 45 minutes south of Boise. The natural sand dunes are the tallest in North America! You can rent sleds and play in the sand. It’s a good workout to hike up them too!
That wraps up this list of my local favorites! I can easily do another one because there are hundreds of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and activities in the Boise area. But I don’t want to overwhelm you and I want to start with the ones we gravitate towards the most!
IDAHO-AREA VLOGS
In case you didn’t know, I have a small YouTube channel that I share videos from family travels or events. I can’t wait for my kids to be able to go back and watch them one day! Here are a few from local Idaho events or getaways, if you are interested!
Camping in McCall, Idaho
Cabin Getaway to Redfish Lake/Lowman, Idaho
Fall Weekend in North End Boise
Let me know if there’s any other Boise area topics you want me to cover. Hope you enjoyed and let me know if you try out any of these gems!
P.S. I love keeping my blog ad-free so that you can enjoy a clutter-free reading experience! If you’d like to support my blog, please consider grabbing a Strong Like My Coffee mug from my small online boutique. Each mug is handmade by me in Idaho, includes the wooden topper & gold spoon, and ships within 5 business days. :)
SHOP HERE
XOXO Kenz
Best Gifts For Pilots, Flight Attendants, & Aviation Enthusiasts
If you have a pilot or aviation fan in your life, you know how consuming of a hobby it can be for them. 😅 My husband is a commercial airline pilot, but also enjoys general recreational flying (especially in the backcountry of Idaho) and can appreciate anything having to do with flight. Since it’s such a big part of their personality and interests, it’s fun to try to find aviation-themed gifts for special occasions! But after six years of shopping for my pilot, I’ve learned that the options for (good) flight-themed gifts are a little limited.
I’m rounding up the best gifts I’ve found for pilots, flight attendants, and aviation lovers and I’m starting off with a fun little surprise!
Strong Like My Coffee’s First Merch Items!
The first time our daughter Brynnley flew on a commercial airplane was really special, particularly for Zeb. As the captain of the flight, he obviously had great pride in being able to fly his baby girl (and wife!). He even made an overhead announcement letting the passengers know that his daughter was on board, and apologized in advanced if they heard any crying 😁 She was just 4-months old.
To make the day more special, we had gone on Etsy to find Brynnley a cute onesie to wear. There weren’t too many options, but Zeb picked out the one she is wearing in this photo. It says “Pack my diapers! I’m going flying with dad!”
Zeb and I have both ordered our fair-share of aviation shirts and onesies from Etsy. It’s fun to commemorate the unique lifestyle with some novel items. I thought of the phrase “honorary crew member” and wished I could find a onesie with that saying, but I couldn’t. I call myself an “honorary Gilmore girl” and these two phrases have always stuck in my head when I’ve thought about what items I would make with my new Cricut machine. Well………
Now I have! And I’ve made custom luggage tags as well! If there are any other aviation families out there that also like cute airplane-themed onesies or shirts, these items are now available for purchase as Strong Like My Coffee’s very first merchandise products. They are linked below using the Shopify platform for secure and easy check-out.
I am starting small with my collection of items for sale until I learn how much of an interest there is from this community. But I hope to add several more unique items in the future! (And if you’re a fellow pilot wife, let me know in the comments!)
Like I said, my “shop” collection will eventually grow but I am starting out small with two products that I really wanted myself! Families of pilots and flight attendants know what a unique lifestyle it can be always having your loved one traveling back and forth all over the country or world. As their support system through all of the “turbulence”, you really are an honorary member of their crew! 💗
Gift Guide for Pilots, Flight Attendants, and Aviation Lovers
The list I compiled contains 15 different items ranging from $4 to $130. Whether they’re cruising the skies for a living or just passionate about flying, I’ve got a list of gifts that will have them doing barrel rolls of joy. Then I made a separate little section specifically for aviation stickers & children’s books, if you’re shopping for any littles of pilots! Let’s get to it!
Gift Ideas for Pilots & Aviation Lovers
- Set of 4 Aviation Pint Glasses with Matching Coasters: This set of 16 oz. beer glasses are etched with four different aviation styles and have matching cork coasters, so no one will mix up their glasses!
- Silicone Airplane Ice Molds: Make your own cute airplane-shaped ice cubes in this little silicone mold.
- Airline Socks: This three-pack of socks has three different designs – a runway, airport map and little airplanes.
- Backcountry Pilot Socks: One more pair of socks! My parents gifted these to Zeb for Christmas this year and he loves them. Again, perfect for anyone into general aviation who likes to fly in nature!
- “Trust Me, I’m a Pilot” Whiskey Glass: a silly glass for any whiskey-lovin’ pilots in your life!
- Airplane Bottle Opener: All of our friends and family have these since this was our party favor at our wedding! They are metal and a really cute touch for an aviation party! I also found a slightly different jet version here.
- Aviation Throw Pillow with Stamp Design: This would make a great accent piece in any pilot’s home with its neutral black and cream design.
- Magnetic Bookmarks: This pack of 6 magnetic bookmarks each have a different aviation themed design and they are so cute!
- Airplane Whiskey and Wine Decanter: This is the priciest item on this list, at $130. It would make a great statement piece for anyone with a bar cart, and it looks so classy with its wooden-wing design!
- Metal Propeller Wall Clock: a great art piece for a wall!
- Airplane-Shaped Paper Clips/Bookmarks: this one is kind of silly but also great for anyone who loves aviation and has a lot of paperwork! The pack comes with a variety of colors of the airplane-shaped paper clips.
- “New Airplane Smell” Air Freshener: this could be a cute stocking stuffer or package topper! A jet-shaped air freshener.
- “Fly Safe, I Love You” Keychain: I think this was one of the first aviation-themed gifts I bought my husband when we were dating. He has it attached to his crew bag that he packs for work!
- Pop-Up Jet Greeting Card: If you’re including a card with your gift for a pilot or aviation lover, this one very detailed with it’s jet pop-up and would be very thoughtful!
I hope this list helped you find something that you’re excited to gift! I also have quite a few aviation-themed stickers and books that we’ve found and purchased over the years. I know these aren’t for everybody, so I’m separating them into their own section:
The Best Aviation-Themed Stickers & Childrens Books:
- “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads” sticker: This is for bush pilots or backcountry flyers. My husband loves flying into the wilderness in Idaho by supercub!
- “I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning” sticker: this would be cute on some kind of coffee station or travel mug.
- “AV8R” Sticker in Airport Taxiway Sign: This was also one of the first things I bought for Zeb!
- “The 100 Funniest Aviation Jokes & Puns” Book: Like a dad-joke book for pilots. You might regret giving this…haha.
- “Amazing Airplane” Baby Board Book: This is a cute board book for young babies and toddlers.
- “Away in an Airplane” Children’s Book: This hardcover book has adorable illustrations and a rhyming story.
- “The Littlest Airplane” Children’s Book: Another hardcover rhyming book with a message about not being the biggest or strongest, but trying your hardest! Cute illustrations.
- “The Ultimate Book of Airplanes and Airports”: This book look awesome, but our daughter is a bit too young for it now. It will be GREAT when she’s in elementary school and can learn all about what her daddy is doing and where he’s at while he is away on trips!
- “Going On An Airplane – Toddler Prep Book”: If you’re nervous about taking your toddler on a flight, this book helps them learn what to expect before hand! Although they will be excited about the trip and new experience no matter what. I’ll be doing a whole blog post on flying with babies and toddlers soon :)
- I Spy and Count Airplanes Book: This is an activity book for 3-5 year olds all about airplanes. It would be great to even bring on travel days to keep them occupied during long sits!
Obviously this is not a comprehensive list of ALL the best airplane children’s books out there, just the few that I have found and love and wanted to share! If you’re interested in this type of content, I’m happy to make more about the fun aviation-themed baby and toddler toys we’ve accumulated over Brynnley’s life so far :)
Thanks for reading, I hope this was helpful for you! And if you’re interested in my Honorary Crew Member baby onesies or luggage tags, or just want to sign up for emails when new products are added to my Strong Like My Coffee shop, check out my store here!
XOXO, Kenz
