What to take/remember for Uni?

Having read this thread I think I will start saving!
When ds1 goes I think I may suggest click and collect near halls or home delivery to get stuff to him,might be easier.

Black plastic sacks for my twins(rather than special laundry bags). My older children have not bothered with mattress protectors. If the twins think they need them they can buy them when they get there.

I'm trying to keep it to a minimum to save costs and hassle but probably they will think of things at the last minute.

One does loads of music so will probably take a trumpet, guitar and electric guitar and he is taking his mixer thing for the vegan shakes he makes at home.

Scissors and sellotape. Noone ever has any when you need them!

I've decided against a topper asDS always complains of being too warm and they are made from memory foam which is quite warm (we had to get rid of a memory foam mattress as we were too hot in bed, haha ).

I'm just getting him a mattress protector.

My understanding is the mattress protector protects the mattress from you and you from the mattress. Mattress toppers are more expensive and about comfort.
ds will be taking a protector.

I'm not buying a topper as they are expensive and I am thinking it could get ruined during fresher's week. I will send him off with a mattress protector instead.

Please keep your ideas coming, I am making a huge list of things!

im getting confused and unsure on mattress topper and protector, we dont have them at home and dont want to spend loads, is it the case of one or the other ? protector for clean mattress and topper to add comfort, or is it a case of needing both ? dd will sleep anywhere and admits her most comfortable nights sleep are on a airbed or camping mat ! would be better to get her something that will last a few years but not sure which to go for, the ones i have seen linked seem costly if comfort doesnt bother her !

As a student myself the biggest advice I can give with regards to what to take... TEA TOWELS. Buy your DCs as many tea towels as is feasibly possible. In my halls I was in a flat of 10 people and by October every single one of the teatowels we had brought had started to smell really badly. Things like this often get overlooked when doing laundry as not many would volunteer to wash everybody's disgusting tea towels!!!
Best advice - buy a load of them and advice to keep half stored in bedroom - when the original ones get a bit gross/smelly, they can whip out a couple of fresh clean ones!

sorry, tiny test, ignore me.

m.facebook.com/groups/488235648182391

We've got a little (anonymous!) Facebook group for uni mums/dads who might have questions on what happens next.

All welcome

ds was told not to bring a doorstop as the doors are fire doors and should be kept shut.

I second a door stop, makes it easier to socialise with your new flat mates in the first few weeks

I also second a mattress topper/protector

Definitely more than one set of bedding for any late night 'accidents' (i.e. spilling your cheese, chips and mayo all over your pillow totally never happened)

Don't bother with loads of kitchen appliances or you'll end up with 4 toasters and kettles! I loved my george foreman grill though. I used it for bacon, chicken etc as well as making toasties.

Drive along any motorway in September & you will recognise the students off to university. There will be an airer & a duvet stuffed in the boot. I did all this with DD and will do it with DS (although less stuff I hope!). It's a nice bonding experience. DD had one old duvet cover (soft & smelling of home) and one new. Only got changed when I nagged after seeing on Skype that it hasn't been. Really, they go months without changing their sheets. Yuk. When I was at uni we got one fresh sheet a week, which meant if you took your own duvet (1980s) you could have a clean bottom sheet each week.

I've seen, but not bought, these www.amazon.com/Shower-Caddy-Waterproof-Storage-Organizer/dp/B00XHX4Y22?tag=mumsnetforum-21 hanging soap bags for communal showers. They won't soak up water and drip when they go back to their room.

I made up a little album of family photos for each of my sons. They both said they really appreciated it - they have loads of photos of their mates on their phones but it's nice to have a reminder of family as well. One thing I would make sure of is that your son lets the accomodation office know that he wants to take up his place as soon as he gets his results. Ds1 had a bit of a nightmare finding accomodation in London because all the rooms in halls were allocated to the organised students while he was out celebrating his results.

I forgot the most important thing! Plastic flip flops for the shower. Absolutely essential.

Actually we used to have a communal iron. Came with the halls. It was never used to my knowledge.

I also second a toastie maker. Wonderful things - toasties - suitable for any time of day and make it harder to set the kitchen on fire whilest drunk.

Maybe spare bedding but probably best if the DC pick that.

Extension lead is a good one ^
As is clothes airer.

He will likely get given condoms at the freshers events.

But still. Condoms. Painkillers. First aid kit. Hangover remedies. Other medicines e.g. Anti histamines and the like.

Soap/shower gel. Washing powder.

I doubt much else is required. Perhaps a pint glass and a spoon.

Door stop
Multi-socket extension lead
Clothes drier - one of the ones that is quite compact and opens upwards, rather than sideways. The ones that go over a radiator are also good for a towel.
Basic printer - it's annoying having to trek to the library to print. Also basic office supplies like a stapler and hole punch
Cleaning wipes
Laundry tablets - often you have to trek miles to the launderette and it's a pain taking powder. Liquitabs or the dry tablets are so much easier. Don't bother with fabric softener.
A decent sized towel as he will most likely be walking to and from the shower along corridors in just a towel!
Sam Stern's student cookbook - it's awesome and I still use it 6 years after graduating.

A couple of other tips:
Apply for loyalty cards at any supermarkets/shops near the university. Also find out which places do student discounts.
Tell your son to lock his door on his way out if there's a fire alarm - some unis have problems with theft from rooms during fire alarms.

Neither of my student DC has ever ironed at uni despite having a liking for 100% cotton shirts . I did glimpse an ironing board in a kitchen cupboard once when I was snooping round halls.

Yes Flamingos that's a daft question!
Seriously, my teen has never ironed anything and I can't imagine going to uni will change that. Maybe there's a communal iron and ironing board?

This is probably a dafy question. Iron and iroing board. No ones mentiones them ao I assume not to bother!

Breville sandwich toaster.... was the best advice I got from these threads last year. My DS has used his nearly every day and had friends knocking on his door to borrow so was good for socialising too!

Clothes horse would have saved my life at uni! I used to use my door handles to hang my knickers