My second child is off to college this year, and oh boy, it doesn’t get easier. But one thing you can do to prepare is have your dorm room essentials packed and ready to go. That way, when you’re moving them in you can focus on them rather than frantic runs to the store for supplies you forgot.
Of course, we all know they need bedding and a mattress topper, but some of these items may not be on your radar. So as you pack your kid’s life into those heavy duty moving bags to move them away from you (can you tell my heart is already breaking?), be sure to include some of these items to make the transition a little easier for them . . . and you.
Absolute necessity: Put together a strong medical kit. Of course, include pain reliever and cough medicine, but also think about things like UTI prevention with a urinary health supplement like ellura, hangover relief, constipation, and sleep. A Chilltherapy gel ice pack for their freezer is a great idea. And my nurse cousin says she’d never send a child to college without Narcan and Plan B, with the hope that they never have to use it.
It’s so obvious, but so easy to forget. Your kid’s gonna need hangers.
A WooZoo globe fan. Do not get just any fan. This is the fan. Get this one. Trust us.
Hauling a traditional laundry basket down several flights of stairs to the laundry room gets old really fast. That’s why we’ve recommended this backpack laundry bag at Target for years. Fill the main compartment with dirty clothes and the front pocket with delicates or even laundry detergent sheets, then throw it over your shoulder to take to the laundry room (or home to mom, hint hint).
When space is at a premium, a multi-tasking gadget is a hero. This bedside device functions as a phone charger, lamp (in a wide array of colors), alarm clock, and bluetooth speaker. Not bad.
These Ear Peace noise-reduction ear plugs attach to your key chain, and they’re great for filtering out the background noise at the library or in the dorms while you’re trying to study, or even for just protecting your hearing health at football games or concerts.
If your kid is messy by nature, this hanging shoe organizer might just save their relationship with their roommate.
Outlets are notoriously inconvenient in dorm rooms, so we higly recommend a power strip with a long cord. This Tessan outlet extender has a flat plug so you can push furniture all the way against it, and it has both regular and USB outlets.
I’d argue that a combo air purifier/humidifier is an essential in a dorm room. In those first couple weeks on campus they’re going to be meeting people from all over the country . . . and their germs. Fresh, clean air (and some immune-boosting gummies) will help.
Of course, they’re going to need a laptop, and if you haven’t gotten one yet now’s the time. Several models are up to 50% off at Target right now, including this HP 14″ 4GB Chromebook for $199 (reg. $399) or this Lenovo V15 Gen 4 laptop with 40GB of RAM for just $869 (reg. $1449). And, of course, if you’re a Mac fan you can’t beat the MacBook Neo for just $699.
Bonus Recommendation: This isn’t a dorm-room essential, but it’s a college essential. A POM pepper-spray and personal safety alarm combo will give you a little extra peace of mind while they’re walking back to the dorm after night classes.
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