it depends how long your kid will be in a twin xl. one of my kids went to a college where most kids were in campus housing for 4 years. AND they had summer storage. So I bought that sleepyhead mattress topper. (second question is if that topper is really better than others - no idea)

Then the fitted sheet around the mattress and topper?

The most important thing that my 3 kids all actually thanked me for a few weeks in to school was the cold medicine i sent with them

Get a plastic shoe box from Dollar Tree. Fill with the big bottles of Day and Nyquil. Plus band aids, Ibuprofen and Tylenol, Vicks vapor rub, chapstick.

I would update and include some liquid IV powders.

They rolled their eyes when i put it together. Yes, there are stores but once you need this stuff you don't want to go to a store.

The crud comes on fast.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’’s School had god awful mattresses. Def get a good mattress topper. We used a cheap sheet to cover the nasty mattress and then the mattress topper on top. His bed was very comfortable after.

I don’t understand why you would put a sheet between the mattress and the topper.

Because otherwise the topper will slip around on the plastic mattress?

good and medium good toppers have a straps that hold them onto mattress

My son constantly told me that he didn't need things. He ended up using everything I got:
- mattress pad - nice one but not over the top
- 1 set of twin xl sheets - Target Threshold cotton ones.
- two pillows so he could prop
- duvet with cover so he wouldn't destroy duvet
- blanket - he said he didn't need but used a lot as he was in old dorms with insane heat in the winter
- desk lamp with a charging port built in
- bedside shelf with lots of charging ports - this is another one he didn't want but ended up being critical as he put his bed up.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4DKD5MM
- big box fan. Again - absolutely didn't need. But he was in dorms with no ac. Used it pretty much year round.
- laundry hamper
- hangers
- shower caddy - again absolutely would not use - again used. I just bought and left it.
- We used these moving bags to move all our kids into college - they have been super useful. They fold up small but are rugged enough to be checked as airline baggage. They use them for coming back and forth and for storing items over the summer. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J66VBDR

you can buy a very cheap mattress cover. sort of zip the mattress into that. I'd put that on first before putting on a $200 mattress topper

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’’s School had god awful mattresses. Def get a good mattress topper. We used a cheap sheet to cover the nasty mattress and then the mattress topper on top. His bed was very comfortable after.

I don’t understand why you would put a sheet between the mattress and the topper.

Because otherwise the topper will slip around on the plastic mattress?

Anonymous wrote:don't send a boy to college with a duvet and cover. but a sleepyhead topper is great.

I get this position, but also it's kind of crazy to me. A comforter seems so hard to wash and a duvet cover so easy. (I get that putting a duvet cover on is hard!). maybe college laundry has big giant machines?

Go cheap on the mattress topper and mattress pad. Trust me.

When we arrived that Spring to pack our son up to come home, his topper was disgusting and went right in the trash. Same with his room rug. It looked fine and clean on the top, but once we rolled it up you could see stains on the backside...ick. Also, I'd do a cheap comforter over a duvet cover. I know 100% my son's comforter never got washed that entire first year. We may have even tossed it before packing him up but I can't remember that one for sure.

Boys need/require so much less, too. My son didn't care at all about his colors or decorations. He just told me to buy blue.

Shower shoes
Shower caddy
Some kind of secured box he can keep valuables in if he'll have any there
Rolling cart - great for keeping snacks in and we found one that had a bottom drawer that locked, so it was great for valuables.

Also, my son saw guys wearing these in the showers and bought some and loves theme. This is not something I'd have picked or thought about for him at all.

https://tinyurl.com/9yvpp44n (sorry, it was a long long long Amazon link)

Stuff we bought that he never once used:
Coffee maker - he got it each morning for "free" at breakfast or bought one from the coffee cart
Printer - was even on the list of tech needed & he never once had to use it
Body pillow
Extra set of sheets - they were never opened
Extra blanket
Stapler & other office supplies
Umbrella
Handheld vacuum

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.

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 ??

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.

my kid has never used a flat sheet in his life.

fitted sheet plus duvet and cover at home. fitted sheet plus comforter at school.

we did one fitted sheet, one comforter, two towels. so very limited. maybe $100 all in. BUT then one nice mattress topper. maybe $200 for that alone.

Get a good mattress topper - 2 inch thick. Makes a huge difference.
For sheets just go to targets dorm stuff. Get XL and buy whatever is cheap. Mine were only used for a year before they moved to apartments and needed fulls. Don’t buy a duvet. Mine also never used the second set of sheets I bought.
Everything else wait and buy as needed.
Do not getting up on all these long lists of things to buy.

How many towels?
My son uses every towel only once in high school (and does all his own laundry to keep
up at this rate). It's his one quirk that he insists on that the rest of us don't share. I can't imagine this will continue in college?

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.