Items for college that most parents overlook... - Page 5

lamom · 08-08-2007, 09:58 AM

Ipecac-If you insist on having some Please label it with the Poison Control Number 1-800-222-1222. Call the National Poison Control Number before using it w/o medical direction.

paying3tuitions · 08-08-2007, 10:01 AM

bike lock and chain; helmet

my D likes to hang her earrings on a wall-mounted something, to see all at once; found a bamboo-weave placemat that serves the purpose. Saves counter space.

sunshadow · 08-08-2007, 10:07 AM

How do you know the over the door coat holder will fit correctly until you try it? I mean, how do you know the door will actually shut?

mom2boys · 08-08-2007, 10:12 AM

Battery Chargers! Cell phone, ipod, etc. Kids charge stuff up night before they leave and then forget to pack the chargers up. It's gotten to the point that we keep one set of chargers at school and another set at home.

cangel · 08-08-2007, 10:14 AM

Over the door "things" fall into the same category as storage cubes, etc - wait until you get there to see what you need.

Step stool if you are short like my D.

I made Ziplocks of meds and small office supplies - rubber bands, pushpins, paperclips, etc. Nobody needs many of these but they come in handy.
D learned after her first year away which cold meds work best, and she restocks herself now.

Its good for Mom or Dad to bring a "real" hammer and set of heavy screwdrivers for the move-in. Smaller tool sets or a leatherman work great to keep in the room.

A beach towel - many uses, including drying off.

2cakes · 08-08-2007, 11:06 AM

Anyone know the name of the insurance company for computers, cameras, etc that was here last year? DH thought our HO insurance was enough for disaster, but for a few $$ we could have covered the camera that was dropped. I want to get everything insured this year.

Both DDs have several plastic underbed storage boxes (6 each, I think) that they use to store out of season or rarely worn clothes, extra bedding, many, many pairs of shoes, all the extra personal stuff, and extra paper, etc. They can be packed at home and are easy to carry if you get the ones with smooth handles.

Small container of sea salt to gargle with when they get the inevitable sore throat.
Ditto the duct tape.
Make copies of all IDs and cards to keep at home.
Don't forget to update the student info for health insurance.
Get an absentee ballot request NOW so your kid can vote.

PackMom · 08-08-2007, 11:28 AM

a calendar and push pins (S's room had a cork board mounted above each desk).

MidwestParent · 08-08-2007, 12:56 PM

Heating pad/ice pack bag - very hard to locate one when you need it in the middle of the night!

"Closet extender" - has two 'poles' that hook over the rod in the closet and hang down. At the bottom of each pole there are loops where you slip in a
rod. Doubles the size of those small college closets. Target has them.

Footlocker - look cool, locks and you can get them with wheels and roll them under the bed. C & N has some great ones!

Suitcase - kids who are attending college a distance from home often forget that they will need something to put their things in when they head home for a visit!

Backpack - I've seen kids forget this too!

historymom · 08-08-2007, 01:14 PM

Tampons and/or Pads

Westcoastmon · 08-08-2007, 01:42 PM

Flat extension cords - the kind that fits flat against the wall - better for tight spots behind furniture.

cathymee · 08-08-2007, 02:25 PM

I put a copy of S's eyeglass prescription and contact prescription so if he needed replacement glasses he was ok w/o needing to remember eye doc's name and #.
Paper towels are extremely useful as they serve as dishes,dryers,cleaners,etc.When kids have to stock their own bathrooms,I gave each two months worth of supplies,I figured by then they have the logistics figured out of who chips in,where to buy,etc.Ditto on supplies like shampoo,toothpaste.S informed me last year the 4 guys sharing the suite bath each brought in their own rolls of TP when needed b/c they couldnt get along with sharing stuff LOL.

LilyMoon · 08-08-2007, 02:26 PM

Things that came in handy for son last year:

First aid kit
ice pack to keep in freezer
Emergen-C (little packets sold in Heath food stores that really work when you feel a cold coming on)
Tums - for that college meal plan food!
chip clips

dragonmom · 08-08-2007, 03:05 PM

small pencil sharpener unless yours is strictly a mechanical pencil user - then extra lead

CBBBlinker · 08-08-2007, 03:05 PM

DD bought an over-the-door coat rack, but it didn't fit her dorm room door -- the door wouldn't close. Fortunately she hadn't taken the packaging off, so I brought it home & returned it. Her room had a built-in bureau w/ a medicine cabinet over it, which was very useful but unreachable except for the bottom shelf. BB&B sells a collapsible 1-step stool that was possibly the best thing she brought to school. Also, her school has new regulations about lofts -- they must be rented through a specific company that also assembles them. The best advice is don't go crazy with a lot of storage bins, drawers, boxes, etc. until you get there to see what will fit.

SpringfieldMom · 08-08-2007, 03:29 PM

Great Thread! Geez, I take time off to got to Traffice Court and see what I missed! I've been taking notes!

Quote:

How do you know the over the door coat holder will fit correctly until you try it? I mean, how do you know the door will actually shut?

Kids shut doors? I thought they were pre-programmed not to!

I only have on thing to add: along with the eyeglass prescription, one of those little eyeglass repair kits with the mini screwdriver and all of the little extra screws and nosepads. I got several at a Dollar General store a few years ago.