Hey, there, college kid momma! By now, our favorite stores have dedicated a whole section for cute, esthetically pleasing dorm supplies. When I say “favorite stores,” I really mean Target, by the way. But we all knew that, right?
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What I was super thankful for during my son’s first year in a dorm was friends and family who had gone down the dorm move-in road. They gifted my son with essentials that I didn’t even think of and added to the collection of things I had. This time last year, I made more trips to Target than I care to admit, several Amazon orders, and oh my goodness, I won’t even get started on the SAMS grocery runs.
Whether this is your first dorm move-in or you’re a pro at his, here are a few dorm room must-haves.
- Paper Towels & Toilet Paper – I don’t think there could be too much of either of these things!
- Paper/Plastic plates, bowls, utensils – College kids eat A LOT, especially at random night hours when everything is closed. There probably isn’t a kitchen in the room, so disposable things are the best option to avoid a bunch of dirty dishes hanging out in their room.
- Microwave, Mini Crockpot, or Small Air Fryer – I started my son out with a microwave, but as he and his roommates seemed to spend a ton of money and time eating out, the other moms and I got together and gave them an air fryer and a crockpot. It cut back on a lot of extra money spending.
- Mini Fridge – There seems to be a lot of food items here. But, hey, it feels like all college kids do is eat!
- Small Vacuum – Dorm life can quickly get messy. A handheld vacuum would come in handy for quick tidying up. I’d say stock up on cleaning supplies in general…don’t forget the toilet brush!
- Relaxing Candle or Essential Oils – College life is so much fun but adjusting to a new environment, meeting new people, and higher education gets stressful. Give them something to help them find their calm in those moments.
- Words of Motivation and Encouragement – We’ll have to get a little crafty with this one! It can be as simple as designing some quotes on Canva and framing them or decorating a tiny box, filling it with small notes for your student to choose from as a part of their daily routine. College life is a challenge. Young adults are so carefree and often neglect their mental health. Let’s help them out as much as we can!
- SNACKS, SNACKS, AND MORE SNACKS! Try to include some healthy options to help with all the non-sleeping they will do.
- Multi-Vitamins – Help those young minds and bodies stay healthy. While shopping for other personal items, they may not think of this, but it’s essential!
- Mattress Cover – This is the very first thing I purchased. All I could think about was the episode of Gilmore Girls when Lorelei went against dorm rules and completely removed the old mattress. I don’t blame her.
Of course, there are all the other basic things – bedding, toiletries, towels, and a ton of bottled water. Don’t forget to grab yourself a few boxes of tissues and some ice cream, Mama. Trust me; you’ll need it! I hope this list helps as you prepare to send your baby (that’s not so much a baby) anymore away to college dorm life.