Sending Your Child Off to College: What They REALLY Need for Their Dorm Room

Hey Momma! Can you believe your baby is about to head off to college? Where did the time go? One minute we’re doing tea parties with dolls, and now we’re packing them up for dorm life! If you’re anything like me, you’re feeling all the things like excitement, a sprinkle of anxiety, and a huge dose of pride mixed in with a side of “how did we get here so fast?”

Now, as you navigate this emotional roller coaster, you’re probably getting bombarded with requests from your child asking for literally every item under the sun, from trendy curtains to fancy mini fridges that they swear they can’t live without. But let me tell you, after one epic year of dorm life with my daughter, I learned the hard way that not everything that glitters is necessary. So, let’s chat about what your kid REALLY needs for their dorm, what you can skip, and how to save a little bit of cash in the process.

Money-Saving Tips:

First things first, let’s talk about how to keep your wallet happy while you’re shopping. Garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, and Amazon Prime Days are going to be your best friends. I can’t stress this enough: Prime Day in July is a great way to snag those discounts. Last year, I took full advantage of Prime Day, and it paid off!

To take advantage of these discounts, a Prime membership is required. This membership also offers many additional benefits, such as free shipping and access to Amazon Prime Video. These features can be especially helpful when sending those emergency items to your college student throughout the year. Amazon was my go-to for care packages, and for last-minute, oh, did I need goggles for chemistry lab tomorrow, and of course, the essentials you always need when you're sick. It was nice to have a go-to that I could depend on with a click of a button.

Okay, let’s dive in! Here’s the scoop on what your child REALLY needs for their dorm.

Dorm Room Essentials:

• Comforter: Most college dorm beds are Twin XL size (38" x 80"). Do yourself a favor and confirm that before you unknowingly buy a comforter and sheets for a regular twin bed; trust me, it’s a thing!
• Sheets/Pillowcases (2 sets, because laundry is a real thing!)
• Bedskirt (I was iffy on this, but it is great for hiding all those under-bed treasures)
• Bed Risers (Dorms will offer to lift your bed, save money, and buy on Amazon, totally   worth it, and they’re like little friends that create more space under your bed for storage)
• Storage bins (Great for putting under the bed to create more space for your things)
• Hangers (for those tiny closets)
• Hanging closet organizer (Space is limited; this is great for creating more!)
•  Hanging shoe bag
• Fan (trust me, dorms are hot!!!)
• Rug (opt for a budget-friendly one; this is one of the top things thrown out at the end of the year.)
• Extra lighting (because you can’t have too much light during those late-night study sessions)
• Storage ottoman (great for extra storage if they’re sharing a room)
• Command hooks (these will save your life when hanging things, and you won't get charged for chipping the paint at the end of the year)

Desk Supplies:

• Desk organizer (we’re trying to avoid chaos here)
• Pens/Pencils (you’d be surprised how quickly they go missing)
• Highlighters (teenage studying requires color coding!)
• Laptop/Computer (the lifeline of college life!)

Bathroom Supplies:

• Shower caddy (think of it as their portable shower buddy)
• Shower shoes (trust me, this is a must!)
• Robe (let’s keep it classy, right?)
• 2 Towels, 2 Washcloths, and 2 Hand Towels (you never know when they’ll want a clean one!)

Laundry Supplies:

• Laundry bag/Hamper/Backpack (Something easy to carry or roll down to the laundry room)

Additional Items:

• Power strip (they’ll need to charge all the things!)
• First aid kit (because it is always good to be prepared)
•  Standard medications (just being practical here, my daughter was sick all year!)
• Reusable water bottle (keeping them hydrated just like we taught them!)

Nice to Have but Not Needed:

• Mirror (They will have one in the bathroom, but if they have multiple people sharing the bathroom, you may want one in their room)
• Wall decorations (let’s see if those family photos make it on their wall)
• Single-serve coffee-maker (nice if they are taking early classes, the only thing that got my daughter there on time)
• Fridge/Microwave (I do think these are important and create ease for your child, but check out the rental options at your school; they are usually reasonable and worth it! The number of refrigerators that are thrown out after the year ends is startling!)

Items to Avoid Buying:

• Air purifier (I learned the hard way that germ avoidance is pretty much a myth in college)
• Headboard (I can’t express this enough, say no!!!)
• Brita filter (there are filtered water fountains and ice machines in the dorms)
• Laundry balls (seriously, who even uses these?)
• iPad (Some students felt that the IPAD was much harder to navigate the classroom online portals; a laptop was much easier)
• Snack cart (I am not even sure what to say about this one, so just say no!)

So there you have it, friend! With this checklist in hand, you're all set to tackle the back-to-college shopping adventure. Embrace this exciting transition, and remember, less is often more, and you can always send something you missed later. Enjoy this special time with your child as they take their next big step into adulthood!

Good luck, happy shopping, and don’t forget to squeeze in some extra hugs, they’ll need them, and so will you!