DS is going to Uni and I've no idea what else I need to pack for him

[OhFuckThisShit]

DS has Aspergers and has struggled to fit in at school and outside the home for a long time. He has done really well at school despite not really 'fitting in' and has decided to move away from home now and live at university.

I am both proud and terrified in equal measures.

He will be living in a shared house with people he knows from school and gets along with. However it's within a complex with other students so he will meet lots of new people.

He's done all the paperwork, renting accommodation etc himself so I have definitely seen a more mature side to him but it doesn't stop me from worrying.

His room is furnished but it says bring small appliances like an Iron etc. I've got his clothes, stationary, new laptop, toiletries etc packed but probably forgetting a million things.

What things did you send with your uni aged child that aren't always thought of but definitely made their lives easier?

[Winterfellismyhome]

Dont have uni aged kids but:

Laundry basket
Clothes horse
Screwdriver set
Extension lead
Dustpan and brush

[SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing]

Mini fridge for his room

[ILoveFlumps]

Second daughter off to uni this week. Off the top of my head:

Slow cooker
Kitchen utensils - tongs, masher, bottle opener, sharp knife, spatula
Cheese grater
Washing up bowl
Sink drainer (for drying up plates etc) - my eldest was the only one who took one and was a life saver for all of them in the flat.
Chopping board
Baking tins
Mixing bowl
Measuring spoons and jug
Scissors
Batteries
Pens, pencils, pads
Push pins for the cork board
Coat hangers
Towels
Laundry bags, one for clean one for dirty
Tea towels
Cleaning cloths
Colour catchers for washing everything at once
Tin foil, cling film
Tupperware boxes
Toilet brush
Mattress protector
Extension leads
Lamp
Recipes - we made our own ‘book’

Umm. I’m sure there’s more that aren’t commonly thought of. I’ll go check and pop back!

[NetballHoop]

DS1 had a fridge supplied with his room, my others have all had clauses in their halls rules banning them so do check first.

A Netflix subscription was popular as it meant people would come to their rooms to watch films etc.

[OhFuckThisShit]

@ILoveFlumps

Second daughter off to uni this week. Off the top of my head:

Slow cooker
Kitchen utensils - tongs, masher, bottle opener, sharp knife, spatula
Cheese grater
Washing up bowl
Sink drainer (for drying up plates etc) - my eldest was the only one who took one and was a life saver for all of them in the flat.
Chopping board
Baking tins
Mixing bowl
Measuring spoons and jug
Scissors
Batteries
Pens, pencils, pads
Push pins for the cork board
Coat hangers
Towels
Laundry bags, one for clean one for dirty
Tea towels
Cleaning cloths
Colour catchers for washing everything at once
Tin foil, cling film
Tupperware boxes
Toilet brush
Mattress protector
Extension leads
Lamp
Recipes - we made our own ‘book’

Umm. I’m sure there’s more that aren’t commonly thought of. I’ll go check and pop back!

Jesus Christ I haven't thought of half of this stuff!!

Making an online argos collection now so will add most of these.

[Aquamarine1029]

I know you want to help him, and you should to a point, but I also think you should allow him to just get on with it himself. He's not going into the wilderness, after all. Help him organise a decent selection of things, but don't go overboard. If he finds he needs something, he can go buy it. I would be nurturing his independence as much as possible.

[thesandwich]

Get him to check with his housemates what they are taking otherwise there will be lots of duplication and storage space in kitchens is limited.
Dds flat had 6 bottles of fairy liquid......

[ChalkDinosaur]

Only thing I would say with kitchen stuff is it might be worth checking with his future housemates (he knows them, right?) what they're bringing - no point in having 5 slow cookers!

One thing I found really useful was one of those washing up sponges where you add washing up liquid to the handle - good for when you need to wash a couple of plates but the sink is already full of someone else's crap...

[notaflyingmonkey]

Don't go overboard, it's worth them settling in to see who has what, and if they are ok about sharing some stuff otherwise the kitchen will be rammed with things that don't get used (DS came home from his first year at halls with most things unused).

I went back after a couple of weeks and bought for the communal kitchen:

Giant bottle of washing up liquid
large rubber gloves
kitchen towel
sink drainer

Does your DS have issues with noise sensitivity? If so, some earplugs, or a white noise machine.

Toilet paper
cleaning items
laundry tabs
Those airers you can put over radiators
A small first aid kit

[TheMandalorian]

Bedding incl duvet and pillows. Mattress protector. Towels. Basic kitchen set eg dinner plates, mugs, cutlery, saucepans, utensils. Tea towels. Clothes horse. Laptop. Extension lead.

[notaflyingmonkey]

I also ended up buying the sponge thing the PP mentioned, I think from Wilko.

[ILoveFlumps]

Yes to the Dishmatic sponge thing!

Screwdriver
Mini sewing kit (just needle and thread)
First aid kit - plasters, savlon, paracetamol and ibuprofen
Bins (one for room one for bathroom as weren’t provided)
Over the door coat hook
Radiator airer for drying towels etc
Bin bags
Food bags
Oh. We did get a toastie maker as DD loves those
Can opener

Still going through her boxes!

[LesLavandes]

My daughter has done uni. I am sure her flat shares all came with utensils, pots, crockery and cutlery.

We sent het with nothing like this and we had no complaints

[LesLavandes]

Of course she had a duvet etc. A first week shopping delivery would be great for him... to include a starter set of bon bags, cleaning things, toilet rolls etc.

I wouldn't worry about an iron. It will never be used 😂

[Leah2005]

A door stop thing. In my dn's flat they would prop their doors open to indicate they were in and happy to have company. Door closed means do not disturb. My DS had auto closing doors so couldn't do it. Might be useful with aspergers.

[Katinski]

and tea bags & instant coffee + milk powder and a mug for his room if they're not already on his list.
Exciting days,eh?

[Leah2005]

Check what a furnished room provides. It is different place to place. My DS had a bed, desk and chair in his room. He had a microwave, kettle, fridge freezer, oven in the kitchen. Don't go overboard with plates etc as it just means they won't wash up. 2 of each should be fine. It will also give him something to do popping to shop to get bits if needed.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Dds flat had 6 bottles of fairy liquid...

Did anyone actually wash up though?!

[Venicelover]

A cheap heated airer is very useful.

[YouUnlockedTheGateAnd]

Extension lead / chargers and noise cancelling headphones

Those are the essentials. Everything else can be arranged later 🤣

[OhFuckThisShit]

We'll have a good look around when he moves up (3 hours away so at least not too far away if he needs help) and see what the communal areas have.

Great suggestions, thank you. I've never been to uni so had no idea what else he would need.

[Flyingarcher]

There isn't much storage room. I bought son under bed boxes and all crockery etc fits in those. Two plates, cups, etc. He hasn't really had anything new, just my crappy stuff so if it gets lost or broken it doesn't matter. Mattress protector is a biggie as is another light, extension lead, and two sets of bedding. To be honest, don't go over board - stuff won't get used and if they need stuff then there are shops!

[Paranoidmarvin]

I honestly don’t have anything else to add. So I just wanted to tell you that you are amazing. I know u must be scared as hell right now about the thought of him being in the works on his own.

I worry about my son and he is only 16. I applaud you as a mother for doing this xxxxx

[EduCated]

Think sensibly about how he’s going to cook. If he’s a frozen pizza and chips kind, then no point sending the whole kitchen. Equally, if cooking is his thing, then some semi-decent stuff will make that a lot better!

Also, Amazon and everywhere else will deliver as long as he has the basics (something to sleep in, something to eat with, something to wear), everything else can be arranged!

[Frenchfancy]

My 2 never had a slow cooker. A toastie machine is far more useful.