What to take/remember for Uni?

I've never heard of anyone getting their bedding washed for them at university before.
Where did you go lady Harvard?

I've just found details of what's provided in ds's halls. Not much! What happened to the 80s? I had a full set of bedding changed once a week. I guess that'll be three months on one set of sheets, then . I'd better get him something more grown up than his current dinosaur set! (Disclaimer: he loves that duvet since it is really washed out and super soft... someone once said the best night's sleep you'll ever get is the one before you put your foot through the duvet cover).

I shall be lurking outside ds's halls seeing if he's wearing a vest in the winter

I agree that it's the last bit of nurturing. Ds is pretty independent now, having done a gap year, but still it can't do any harm to try to make sure they're comfortable.

I presume ds's halls will be sending a list of what's provided. Otherwise some people will be turning up with the kitchen sink and others will have a handkerchief tied on the end of a stick a la Dick Wittington.

Empty nest syndrome?? I've got "Can't wait to boot him out" syndrome,.
I think that's a pretty normal feeling for parents of school-leavers.
Time for them to step up and show what they're made of.

Although it may be different when 11yo DD leaves home...

Yes DD2 is off to Uni this September.
If she can't figure out what pots and kitchen stuff she needs, then she hasn't solved the more basic question of what does she know how to cook, IMO.
Older DC, I put my hands up, I was pretty invested in this stuff. I'm glad that now I've learned a bit about how to stop helicoptering, and can see that she needs a bit of space to choose the things she wants to have. Instead of the things I can feel great about providing for her.

DoneInn

Haha, I still waiting for 'empty nest syndrome, to kick in. I went from having four DC at home to having none within five years....😁 It's bliss.

I'm sure my DC could have sorted things out themselves. It's not exactly rocket science is it? However I thought it was thrifty for them to take some of my old things such as old pans, towels and duvets and for me to be the one who gets the new stuff.

DancingLedge you may not have an 18 year old off to uni or you might realise this isn't about the DC it's about the last bit of nurturing before empty nest syndrome.
Helped me enormously when mine went and was much appreciated by my DC.

DancingLedge

I helped my DCs sort out stuff to take to Uni. Mostly it was because I knew what things I was happy for them to take from the house but also because it was helpful for them to have my imput 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think it's a bit extreme to believe that helping your kids with this type of thing means they won't 'flourish' at Uni. In fact I suspect there is absolutely no correlation at all.

Teach him to cook a few simple meals, if he doesn't know how to.

DD would think of most of it, but if I can make her life a bit more easy by suggesting a mattress topper and a dishmatic then I'd love to do that.

Umm, these kids going off to Uni are on the threshold of adulthood.
Can't they be allowed to work out for themselves what they need, then go and buy it for themselves?

They're not children going to boarding school.
They're leaving home.
If they can't figure this stuff- duvets and saucepans- out, how are they going to flourish at Uni?

I assumed one set of bedding was enough as he will (hopefully!) wash and dry it on the same day. But I can also imagine it won't see the inside of a washing machine for 10 weeks

My kids all only every used one set of bedding. We started out sending them with two but they only ever used one set so stopped. Some of them had a sleeping bag which I suppose they could use if they spilt something.

I'd go for two sets of bedding Paxman. If I remember, Freshers' Week can be very messy...

Watching with interest as DS is off to uni in September. H's opted for catered halls so won't need catering stuff. I hadn't thought of a desk light, bu can see that might be useful.

I assumed one set of bedding was enough as he will (hopefully!) wash and dry it on the same day. But I can also imagine it won't see the inside of a washing machine for 10 weeks.....

Now we're talking!

Actually I do have a posh sort of mattress topper on my own bed, but it means that no fitted sheet (even the extra deep ones) will satisfactorily fit over the mattress. Gosh, first world problems!

This is cheaper

Yes but not memory foam.

That value one is still £80!

Do they not have a value value one?

This one

DS1 hardly noticed his mattress topper until I took it home a week early before end of term to save space in the car for the big pack up. He really noticed it was missing! The provided mattress was thin and lumpy with springs that dug into him, apparently!

This Mattress topper is amazing but v expensive.

Can anyone recommend a good mattress topper please?

I've had 4 DC go to Uni in the last 6 years so I consider myself well versed I what to take 😁

First thing I'd say is to not take much stuff. There will be shops there. The less stuff the better.

We did the expanding file thing suggested earlier with important documents and copies of important documents in it. - most of it never used though😂. Apparently NO ONE uses stamps these days.

The thing all the kids loved the most and continue to love was good quality mattress toppers. They have carted them round with them with each new move. Occasionally they've had the wrong size following a move but it all seems to have worked out.

I have just bought ds two "hotel quality" bath sheets from Groupon. In a very practical dark grey (so he can go all term without washing them...).

Crockery id self catering - get from the charity shop so it doesn't get mixed with everyone else's ikea stuff. The same for pans.

Tin opener, corkscrew and bottle opener.

photos and a list of birthdays with addresses to send cards.

flip flops for the shower, towel and dressing gown.

Soap and shampoo.

spare cheap phone.

Winter clothes, the first holiday is Xmas.

Does he know how to use a laundry?

Spare bedding.

wall planner / chart for deadlines and organising social life.

basic first aid and sewing kit.

HC1 so he doesn't get lumped with prescription charges and check vaccinations are up to date.

paper, pens, book bag.

spare toothbrush, comb, hair gel deodorant.

Toilet roll - if he has his own bathroom there will not be one and if he is sharing he might need it anyway.

A wok - you can cook just about anything in one.