Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:59     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

So, my kid did use the second set of sheets! He wasn't super on top of the laundry and appreciated being able to change the sheets when he got super disgusted by himself and then wash them the next day. He also got Covid at one point and was sweating like a pig, so he changed his sheets and washed them all when he felt better.

We are big fans of the Mellani sheets. Very well priced.

His comforter came from Wayfair. I think it cost $32! He loves it.

He took two sets of towels (bath sheet, hand towel, washcloth). He never used the hand towels. He is a swimmer and also took two swim towels and his mini-towel rack for his suits.

For cleaning supplies, I definitely sent him with a container of wipes. He and his roommate bought a broom and took turns sweeping each week!

Add a container of nasal saline to the cold meds in your med case. Also mini packs of kleenex.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:53     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

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


nope, nobody is hanging out in their kids rooms for 2 days. there's programming on campus. even my kid's college - not yale - had some great parenting presentations. We were there for two days - not in and out in 30 minutes. I know some are. Lehigh is notorious for not wanting parents out of the car. I dont think that's *better* to be honest.


If you don't know how to parent by the time your kid's in college you have major issues.


You sound very unfamiliar with colleges these days. It's quite common for them to have programming for parents at move in.

Not my kids' colleges. 3 of them had orientation sessions with optional parent programming at sessions over the summer.


The parent programming is to get parents out of the kids rooms, give them something to go to, and then send them home.

We already did the student orientation and parent sessions. The school holds 7-8 sessions every other week all during the summer. When it comes to move it day, families have a short window. There are lots of volunteers available to help you schlep stuff from your car but then the car has to be moved off campus in about 45 minutes or so.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:50     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to get twin (long) flat and sheet. A blanket, pillow and a fan!

Maybe a robe, shower slipper, and caddy.

Then bring their usual self care and school stuff, plus a new water bottle.






All of this, plus an inexpensive mattress topper. Also a cheap nightstand with fabric drawers, a small lamp for that, a desk lamp, and two long surge protectors. Nothing remotely fancy. Including a few items of new clothing, I spent ~$400.

never saw a college boy wear a robe. and never saw a college boy with a nightstand w/lamp. None of my kids' freshmen dorms could have accommodated a night - the rooms are too small for that.


If they don't wear a robe, what are they wearing to and from the shower down the hall?

are you from the planet earth?


huh?

I can't remember the last time I saw a human wearing a robe outside of a hotel spa or an advertisement.


My dd loves her bathrobe - she has the same one at school that she has at home. Not because she needs something go walk through the hallway in, but because she finds it cozy to throw a bathrobe on right after the shower. My ds will no doubt do what he does at home - throw a towel around his waist and go. Def send shower shoes - mine just use their adidas slides. And I agree with most others re bedding - a good mattress topper, a waterproof mattress pad, threshold sheets from target and an inexpensive comforter that will wash well. A good pillow is key. Under bed storage. Don't send too. many clothes. And my kids like having a nightstand for books, alarm clock, water bottle.The poster who said send meds is absolutely right - I made a box of cold medicine, advil, vitamins, bandaids, etc. Came in very handy. Also the air purifier, fan and desk lamp are impt IMO.

My kids' dorm rooms could not fit a nightstand.


My shy gangly kid wants a terry robe to wear from the hall bath after showering. Most of the dorm rooms will fit a small nightstand so we got one tall enough for a semi-lofted bed. He likes to study in bed, so water, place to set laptop etc helpful.

Yes, helps if you know your kid and the size/layout of his dorm room.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:44     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to get twin (long) flat and sheet. A blanket, pillow and a fan!

Maybe a robe, shower slipper, and caddy.

Then bring their usual self care and school stuff, plus a new water bottle.






All of this, plus an inexpensive mattress topper. Also a cheap nightstand with fabric drawers, a small lamp for that, a desk lamp, and two long surge protectors. Nothing remotely fancy. Including a few items of new clothing, I spent ~$400.

never saw a college boy wear a robe. and never saw a college boy with a nightstand w/lamp. None of my kids' freshmen dorms could have accommodated a night - the rooms are too small for that.


If they don't wear a robe, what are they wearing to and from the shower down the hall?

are you from the planet earth?


huh?

I can't remember the last time I saw a human wearing a robe outside of a hotel spa or an advertisement.


My dd loves her bathrobe - she has the same one at school that she has at home. Not because she needs something go walk through the hallway in, but because she finds it cozy to throw a bathrobe on right after the shower. My ds will no doubt do what he does at home - throw a towel around his waist and go. Def send shower shoes - mine just use their adidas slides. And I agree with most others re bedding - a good mattress topper, a waterproof mattress pad, threshold sheets from target and an inexpensive comforter that will wash well. A good pillow is key. Under bed storage. Don't send too. many clothes. And my kids like having a nightstand for books, alarm clock, water bottle.The poster who said send meds is absolutely right - I made a box of cold medicine, advil, vitamins, bandaids, etc. Came in very handy. Also the air purifier, fan and desk lamp are impt IMO.

My kids' dorm rooms could not fit a nightstand.


My shy gangly kid wants a terry robe to wear from the hall bath after showering. Most of the dorm rooms will fit a small nightstand so we got one tall enough for a semi-lofted bed. He likes to study in bed, so water, place to set laptop etc helpful.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:41     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

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


nope, nobody is hanging out in their kids rooms for 2 days. there's programming on campus. even my kid's college - not yale - had some great parenting presentations. We were there for two days - not in and out in 30 minutes. I know some are. Lehigh is notorious for not wanting parents out of the car. I dont think that's *better* to be honest.


If you don't know how to parent by the time your kid's in college you have major issues.


You sound very unfamiliar with colleges these days. It's quite common for them to have programming for parents at move in.

Not my kids' colleges. 3 of them had orientation sessions with optional parent programming at sessions over the summer.


The parent programming is to get parents out of the kids rooms, give them something to go to, and then send them home.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:32     Subject: Re:can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

Don't waste your money. Boys are easy. They'll never use the second set of sheets so don't bother buying them. Let him bring towels from home. One XL comforter and he can bring a blanket from home. Toiletries, maybe a fan. That's about it. I have one son and that's all he's really needed that he doesn't already own.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:23     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

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


nope, nobody is hanging out in their kids rooms for 2 days. there's programming on campus. even my kid's college - not yale - had some great parenting presentations. We were there for two days - not in and out in 30 minutes. I know some are. Lehigh is notorious for not wanting parents out of the car. I dont think that's *better* to be honest.


If you don't know how to parent by the time your kid's in college you have major issues.


You sound very unfamiliar with colleges these days. It's quite common for them to have programming for parents at move in.

Not my kids' colleges. 3 of them had orientation sessions with optional parent programming at sessions over the summer.


My kid's school didn't have that early summer orientation. Everything happened at move in.

exactly. different schools do different things. imagine that.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:22     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to get twin (long) flat and sheet. A blanket, pillow and a fan!

Maybe a robe, shower slipper, and caddy.

Then bring their usual self care and school stuff, plus a new water bottle.






All of this, plus an inexpensive mattress topper. Also a cheap nightstand with fabric drawers, a small lamp for that, a desk lamp, and two long surge protectors. Nothing remotely fancy. Including a few items of new clothing, I spent ~$400.

never saw a college boy wear a robe. and never saw a college boy with a nightstand w/lamp. None of my kids' freshmen dorms could have accommodated a night - the rooms are too small for that.


If they don't wear a robe, what are they wearing to and from the shower down the hall?

are you from the planet earth?


huh?

I can't remember the last time I saw a human wearing a robe outside of a hotel spa or an advertisement.


My dd loves her bathrobe - she has the same one at school that she has at home. Not because she needs something go walk through the hallway in, but because she finds it cozy to throw a bathrobe on right after the shower. My ds will no doubt do what he does at home - throw a towel around his waist and go. Def send shower shoes - mine just use their adidas slides. And I agree with most others re bedding - a good mattress topper, a waterproof mattress pad, threshold sheets from target and an inexpensive comforter that will wash well. A good pillow is key. Under bed storage. Don't send too. many clothes. And my kids like having a nightstand for books, alarm clock, water bottle.The poster who said send meds is absolutely right - I made a box of cold medicine, advil, vitamins, bandaids, etc. Came in very handy. Also the air purifier, fan and desk lamp are impt IMO.

My kids' dorm rooms could not fit a nightstand.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:21     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

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


nope, nobody is hanging out in their kids rooms for 2 days. there's programming on campus. even my kid's college - not yale - had some great parenting presentations. We were there for two days - not in and out in 30 minutes. I know some are. Lehigh is notorious for not wanting parents out of the car. I dont think that's *better* to be honest.


If you don't know how to parent by the time your kid's in college you have major issues.


You sound very unfamiliar with colleges these days. It's quite common for them to have programming for parents at move in.

Not my kids' colleges. 3 of them had orientation sessions with optional parent programming at sessions over the summer.


My kid's school didn't have that early summer orientation. Everything happened at move in.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:14     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to get twin (long) flat and sheet. A blanket, pillow and a fan!

Maybe a robe, shower slipper, and caddy.

Then bring their usual self care and school stuff, plus a new water bottle.






All of this, plus an inexpensive mattress topper. Also a cheap nightstand with fabric drawers, a small lamp for that, a desk lamp, and two long surge protectors. Nothing remotely fancy. Including a few items of new clothing, I spent ~$400.

never saw a college boy wear a robe. and never saw a college boy with a nightstand w/lamp. None of my kids' freshmen dorms could have accommodated a night - the rooms are too small for that.


If they don't wear a robe, what are they wearing to and from the shower down the hall?

are you from the planet earth?


huh?

I can't remember the last time I saw a human wearing a robe outside of a hotel spa or an advertisement.


My dd loves her bathrobe - she has the same one at school that she has at home. Not because she needs something go walk through the hallway in, but because she finds it cozy to throw a bathrobe on right after the shower. My ds will no doubt do what he does at home - throw a towel around his waist and go. Def send shower shoes - mine just use their adidas slides. And I agree with most others re bedding - a good mattress topper, a waterproof mattress pad, threshold sheets from target and an inexpensive comforter that will wash well. A good pillow is key. Under bed storage. Don't send too. many clothes. And my kids like having a nightstand for books, alarm clock, water bottle.The poster who said send meds is absolutely right - I made a box of cold medicine, advil, vitamins, bandaids, etc. Came in very handy. Also the air purifier, fan and desk lamp are impt IMO.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:10     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

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


nope, nobody is hanging out in their kids rooms for 2 days. there's programming on campus. even my kid's college - not yale - had some great parenting presentations. We were there for two days - not in and out in 30 minutes. I know some are. Lehigh is notorious for not wanting parents out of the car. I dont think that's *better* to be honest.


If you don't know how to parent by the time your kid's in college you have major issues.


You sound very unfamiliar with colleges these days. It's quite common for them to have programming for parents at move in.

Not my kids' colleges. 3 of them had orientation sessions with optional parent programming at sessions over the summer.


how is this different? orientation sessions is what people are talking about. if you're saying there were orientation sessions on site at some time OTHER than move-in days, that just seems like a hassle for families to go there twice.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:08     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

I'm team comforter. Two fleece blankets seems weird to me - not that I would judge other people! A fitted sheet plus comforter. It's comfy and it's easy to "make the bed" - there's hardly anything to make - just fluff the comforter over the bed.

we are duvet plus cover at home. I would have been okay doing that, although it's pricier for a nice one and didn't really want to invest a lot of money into this twin xl size so I kinda talked my kid into a comforter. Been great
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:04     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to get twin (long) flat and sheet. A blanket, pillow and a fan!

Maybe a robe, shower slipper, and caddy.

Then bring their usual self care and school stuff, plus a new water bottle.






All of this, plus an inexpensive mattress topper. Also a cheap nightstand with fabric drawers, a small lamp for that, a desk lamp, and two long surge protectors. Nothing remotely fancy. Including a few items of new clothing, I spent ~$400.

never saw a college boy wear a robe. and never saw a college boy with a nightstand w/lamp. None of my kids' freshmen dorms could have accommodated a night - the rooms are too small for that.


If they don't wear a robe, what are they wearing to and from the shower down the hall?

are you from the planet earth?


huh?

I can't remember the last time I saw a human wearing a robe outside of a hotel spa or an advertisement.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:03     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

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


nope, nobody is hanging out in their kids rooms for 2 days. there's programming on campus. even my kid's college - not yale - had some great parenting presentations. We were there for two days - not in and out in 30 minutes. I know some are. Lehigh is notorious for not wanting parents out of the car. I dont think that's *better* to be honest.


If you don't know how to parent by the time your kid's in college you have major issues.


You sound very unfamiliar with colleges these days. It's quite common for them to have programming for parents at move in.

Not my kids' colleges. 3 of them had orientation sessions with optional parent programming at sessions over the summer.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2025 15:02     Subject: can someone just tell me the dorm stuff to buy

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Make sure to get twin (long) flat and sheet. A blanket, pillow and a fan!

Maybe a robe, shower slipper, and caddy.

Then bring their usual self care and school stuff, plus a new water bottle.






All of this, plus an inexpensive mattress topper. Also a cheap nightstand with fabric drawers, a small lamp for that, a desk lamp, and two long surge protectors. Nothing remotely fancy. Including a few items of new clothing, I spent ~$400.

never saw a college boy wear a robe. and never saw a college boy with a nightstand w/lamp. None of my kids' freshmen dorms could have accommodated a night - the rooms are too small for that.


If they don't wear a robe, what are they wearing to and from the shower down the hall?

are you from the planet earth?


huh?