can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

[Anonymous]

O good grief. It’s pretty certain that parents of rising college freshmen understand that different people are different. Different parenting styles, different kids, different health care needs, different everything. What is the problem on this thread? Have you all forgotten this? Have you forgotten how to be supportive of your fellow travelers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's college had a 2 night orientation where kids stayed in dorms (but nice air conditioned dorms!) and parents stayed locally. A nice mix of mostly separate programing and coming together for a dinner or cook out. Come move in day and the college was all business. Drop off, picture, bye!

How did that work for out of town families. There was a two night orientation and a separate move in day?

yes. we were mostly all "out of town" families. International families and others could elect the very last orientation session that ended a day before move in day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I put it all in my shopping cart and it was $600. and that's on sale.

I dont need to save money, but do I need to go "nice" on everything? do I need it all?

mattress topper - can I go cheaper? like a $50 one or do I get the $150 one. or even the 250 one
mattress pad - this can be basic, right. and do you do a topper and a pad?
comforter vs duvet and cover (which is a lot more, but nicer)
sheets and towels - i can manage this part.

My son doesnt care about bedding.

Does anyone know how often they change the mattresses in dorms? Any requirement or regulations ??

the mattresses are NEVER changed. They are just coils and foam encased with a vinyl-type waterproof, fire-resistant encasement. And rather thin (6-8 inches maybe). You could sray it down with Lysol or whatever when you see them.

Oh THAT sounds healthy. Good lord.

Just wait. Dorms are a cesspool of germs. Preschool level sickness.

my kid was sick for about 90% of his freshman year. mostly cold-like symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to buy when we got to college (a plane ride away) and then washed at the college during move in day - which DS thought was humiliating, but nobody noticed and the laundry room was me and 2 other moms doing the same thing. Anyway - that turned out to be a good idea because I could show DS how to use the laundry they had there. That, despite what other kids insisted, throwing a weeks worth of everything in the biggest machine and then into the biggest dryer was fine! And then use that same big machine for comforter if it dirty

do not recommend mom hanging around on move in day (and we're also a plane ride away for 2 kids). mom should definitely not be in the laundry room.

Not sure what you mean by hanging around. We were in at around 10am and then at the parents event at 1 and then left with everyone else. Laundry takes 45 minutes. Some of us had to buy sheets when we go there.

drop off stuff. picture if he's willing. leave.

NP you know colleges handle this different, right? Yale was a two-day affair!

you hang out in the kid's room for 2 days?! wow, Yale, you've changed

yep. two days. I guess you would be gone by 10:30AM on the 17th and judge others - you do you!

AUG 17
Move-in day
Events for families
AUG 18
Morning events for families
Suggested departure time for families (2:00 p.m.)
Afternoon and evening orientation events

you're conflating posts. of course you stick around for programs designed for parents. but parents don't hang around in the doors long after move in.

nobody here said they did. one parent said they did laundry at move in and one mom jumped all over her for *hanging* around for two days. ridiculous.

Nope. Doing your kid's laundry in the dorm on move in day IS "hanging around." If it takes you 2 hours or 2 days, that's a different matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to buy when we got to college (a plane ride away) and then washed at the college during move in day - which DS thought was humiliating, but nobody noticed and the laundry room was me and 2 other moms doing the same thing. Anyway - that turned out to be a good idea because I could show DS how to use the laundry they had there. That, despite what other kids insisted, throwing a weeks worth of everything in the biggest machine and then into the biggest dryer was fine! And then use that same big machine for comforter if it dirty

do not recommend mom hanging around on move in day (and we're also a plane ride away for 2 kids). mom should definitely not be in the laundry room.

Not sure what you mean by hanging around. We were in at around 10am and then at the parents event at 1 and then left with everyone else. Laundry takes 45 minutes. Some of us had to buy sheets when we go there.

drop off stuff. picture if he's willing. leave.

NP you know colleges handle this different, right? Yale was a two-day affair!

you hang out in the kid's room for 2 days?! wow, Yale, you've changed

yep. two days. I guess you would be gone by 10:30AM on the 17th and judge others - you do you!

AUG 17
Move-in day
Events for families
AUG 18
Morning events for families
Suggested departure time for families (2:00 p.m.)
Afternoon and evening orientation events

you're conflating posts. of course you stick around for programs designed for parents. but parents don't hang around in the doors long after move in.

nobody here said they did. one parent said they did laundry at move in and one mom jumped all over her for *hanging* around for two days. ridiculous.

Nope. Doing your kid's laundry in the dorm on move in day IS "hanging around." If it takes you 2 hours or 2 days, that's a different matter.

That is your opinion and you are welcome to it, same as everyone else with a different opinion.

Why so judgy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just learned my freshman boy will be in quad with a private bathroom. What's the minimal cleaning stuff you'd send with him?

towel bowl brush with caddy!

+ some all purpose bathroom cleaner with some foam/bubble/cling, all purpose wipes - and that's it. probably a trash can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to buy when we got to college (a plane ride away) and then washed at the college during move in day - which DS thought was humiliating, but nobody noticed and the laundry room was me and 2 other moms doing the same thing. Anyway - that turned out to be a good idea because I could show DS how to use the laundry they had there. That, despite what other kids insisted, throwing a weeks worth of everything in the biggest machine and then into the biggest dryer was fine! And then use that same big machine for comforter if it dirty

do not recommend mom hanging around on move in day (and we're also a plane ride away for 2 kids). mom should definitely not be in the laundry room.

Not sure what you mean by hanging around. We were in at around 10am and then at the parents event at 1 and then left with everyone else. Laundry takes 45 minutes. Some of us had to buy sheets when we go there.

drop off stuff. picture if he's willing. leave.

NP you know colleges handle this different, right? Yale was a two-day affair!

you hang out in the kid's room for 2 days?! wow, Yale, you've changed

yep. two days. I guess you would be gone by 10:30AM on the 17th and judge others - you do you!

AUG 17
Move-in day
Events for families
AUG 18
Morning events for families
Suggested departure time for families (2:00 p.m.)
Afternoon and evening orientation events

you're conflating posts. of course you stick around for programs designed for parents. but parents don't hang around in the doors long after move in.

nobody here said they did. one parent said they did laundry at move in and one mom jumped all over her for *hanging* around for two days. ridiculous.

Nope. Doing your kid's laundry in the dorm on move in day IS "hanging around." If it takes you 2 hours or 2 days, that's a different matter.

I've moved in 4 kids and never NOT been in the dorm room for 90 minutes minumum. I wouldn't call it hanging around and yes, once we washed the locally bought bedding. I guess the other option was to put on sheets out of the packaging, but that's not what my kid did. Who cares

[Anonymous]

If on a very tight budget, just buy the twin XL fitted sheet. Then regular twin bedding from home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I put it all in my shopping cart and it was $600. and that's on sale.

I dont need to save money, but do I need to go "nice" on everything? do I need it all?

mattress topper - can I go cheaper? like a $50 one or do I get the $150 one. or even the 250 one
mattress pad - this can be basic, right. and do you do a topper and a pad?
comforter vs duvet and cover (which is a lot more, but nicer)
sheets and towels - i can manage this part.


My son doesnt care about bedding.

Haven’t read all posts but here goes

Mattress topper important and don’t go cheap.

Two sets of sheets is fine because he may never launder even once. Just being honest. Bonus if you get that zip sheet set called beddys-my son loved this and room looked neat.

Get a pillow wedge for sitting up on bed and maybe two extra pillows and do not get feather because they get nasty. If you are feeling kind get a temperpedic.

Depending on where he goes get a blanket and not some fancy duvet because he will never wash it and it gets messy. Rooms are always hot even with ac and heat. Trust me he is never washing duvet so drop that.

Covered laundry basket to hide his mess and wheels on it a bonus.

You put together some family/friend photos with frames because he will not but will appreciate on days he is down.

Just get a flag or sports flag for wall so not bare but do not over think if he doesn’t care about decorating.

Medical kit because he is going to get sick. Put in advil, thermometer, imodium, saline, zyrtec, nasonex, ramen in cup, crackers,
tissues. Trust me he will be happy he has some things ready. Put in a box and store on top of wardrobe so out of the way yet ready.

photo copy insurance card on phone.

underbed storage that actually pulls out easy because if you have the plastic that is hard to pull he will never use it.

hooks to hang jacket etc by door and many schools have rules so make sure command strips but the kind that can hold weight.


Extension cord that has multiple outlets

suit jack and nice kakis and long sleeve and short sleeve shirt that you have in a hanging bag if he needs it for rush or a presentation. storage bag is key so accessible only if he needs it. Belt as well.

clorox wipes and paper towels and trash can/bags

mirror if school doesn’t provide

lock box to store anything important like meds or wallet/passport.


Freshman year send off so fun!!

[Anonymous]

Has anyone heard of (or even recommend) a bed extender? They seem to be promoting them at our child’s school.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t your kid ever go to camp and needed twin xl sheets? Just send those. Go in your hall closet and get a few towels. Buy as little as possible since most won’t be used. All mine asked for during the year was more toiletries and medicine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had to buy when we got to college (a plane ride away) and then washed at the college during move in day - which DS thought was humiliating, but nobody noticed and the laundry room was me and 2 other moms doing the same thing. Anyway - that turned out to be a good idea because I could show DS how to use the laundry they had there. That, despite what other kids insisted, throwing a weeks worth of everything in the biggest machine and then into the biggest dryer was fine! And then use that same big machine for comforter if it dirty

do not recommend mom hanging around on move in day (and we're also a plane ride away for 2 kids). mom should definitely not be in the laundry room.

Not sure what you mean by hanging around. We were in at around 10am and then at the parents event at 1 and then left with everyone else. Laundry takes 45 minutes. Some of us had to buy sheets when we go there.

drop off stuff. picture if he's willing. leave.

NP you know colleges handle this different, right? Yale was a two-day affair!

you hang out in the kid's room for 2 days?! wow, Yale, you've changed

yep. two days. I guess you would be gone by 10:30AM on the 17th and judge others - you do you!

AUG 17
Move-in day
Events for families
AUG 18
Morning events for families
Suggested departure time for families (2:00 p.m.)
Afternoon and evening orientation events

you're conflating posts. of course you stick around for programs designed for parents. but parents don't hang around in the doors long after move in.

nobody here said they did. one parent said they did laundry at move in and one mom jumped all over her for *hanging* around for two days. ridiculous.

Nope. Doing your kid's laundry in the dorm on move in day IS "hanging around." If it takes you 2 hours or 2 days, that's a different matter.

That is your opinion and you are welcome to it, same as everyone else with a different opinion.

Why so judgy?

Seriously. I am getting flashbacks to the posts on here with moral indignation over potty training at age 2 vs age 3.
Certain parents just need meaningless things to feel superior about.

[Anonymous]

people here are judgy about comforters?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard of (or even recommend) a bed extender? They seem to be promoting them at our child’s school.[/quote
what does it extend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard of (or even recommend) a bed extender? They seem to be promoting them at our child’s school.

What does it extend?