To ask what emergency supplies you send with your DC when they start uni?

[EmptyNesterSoon]

DD2 is off to uni in a fortnight.

When DD1 went I put together a small storage crate full of chemist items, first aid stuff, cough and cold remedies (lucky I did as she was really laid low with freshers' flu within a week of arrival). Emergency hangover kit - long life vegetable and fruit juices like V8, long life milk and breakfast bars so she could lie in bed and restore herself. Homesickness treats - fluffy socks and lots of chocolate and a cuddly toy.
And a few more serious items like drink spike test strips.

When DD's friend went to uni last year I did similar for her too as she has lost her Mum.

Now it is DD2's turn, so I made a start today in Boots with extra advice from a helpful chap on the pharmacy till.

Just wondering if others do this too and if so what items do you put in?

Haha… this brings back memories. My mum bought me an electric pencil sharpener and a a box of 200 pencils. That was 20 years ago and I still have the sharpener and about 185 pencils. (I think I gave out 10 of 15 used ones)

When my Godson went off we got him a good size lockable box for that inevitable moment when he wanted to control access to his stuff from the people he was living with. IME, that point comes sooner or later when living with other people. Until, that point, it’s just a good place to store stuff unlocked.

I’d forgotten the medical bits. Thanks

Also place marking. This is so helpful

This will probably out me but I did this for my two. Hangs neatly on the bathroom or wardrobe door and keeps everything tidy and in place.

Meant to add it contained the first terms worth of shampoo, deodorant, shower get, first aid kit, condoms, cleaning stuff, bin bags, cloths, wipes. The rooms are so small and it took up,very little space.

A box of face masks.

My mum put in A bottle of wine and corkscrew

Some nice cans of hearty soup and a thing of rice or pasta

Toothpaste and toiletries.

The wine was great. It gave me an opener to the girl across the hall. We unpacked and shared some wine. Still friends now.

My mum made me a lovely sewing kit that I still have to this day 23 years later! Needles, thread, buttons, small scissors, tape measure, a few other things. I still use it a few times a year.

No idea as can’t remember what I needed at Uni and I took myself there as parents abroad, but you sound like a lovely thoughtful mother. You’re girls must be lucky to have you.

Back in the nineties I remember some lucky students receiving shoe boxes from home stuffed with their favourite things and a letter from home, couldn't help but feel a bit envious - my mother was the just get on with it type, even if she had sent me a cheque the note attached would have been purely functional. I'll be sending a box from home with a letter after a couple of weeks.

Sewing kit. I was surprised how often I needed it!

Most of the usual stuff but I also made a big pasta dish which he could share with his new flat mates the first night, I was a bit wary as it might have looked 'pushy' but he said they all really enjoyed eating together and chatting that night ... and coincidentally another parent had sent a huge box of homemade cakes so they had a 'pudding' to share as well.

I enjoyed putting together the occasional 'care box' and posting it off but most of it came back unused !

I included cleaning stuff for both my DS. They were unlikely to spend on those items until they or their bathroom was rank🤢.
So clothes washing stuff, toilet cleaner and bog brush, kitchen cloths and scrubbers and jiff cleaner.
And their own electric toothbrush- at home they shared the brush with their own brush heads. I also booked them and paid for dentist visit every summer hole whilst thy were at uni

Only thing my mum got especially to send me off with was a digital alarm clock

A good torch in case of power cuts. My brother had a power cut on his first night and sat in darkness for hours. Set of screwdrivers. Tea towels. Basic baking stuff. Thermometer, first aid kit. Sewing kit.

I gave my dd a wheat bag for colder nights and the period pains much safer than a hot water bottle, I’ve been out to too many students who have scalded themselves with a hot water bottle that hasn’t been done up properly.
Too late for those going this year but book your teens in for a basic first aid course that includes CPR, it will never be money wasted and may save their life’s or one of their friends.

The drug testing wristbands are available in the UK from here

www.ukwristbands.com/drink-check-wristband

I've just ordered some for the same reason of it being a talking point and education tool, rather than for their actual purpose!

@daisypond

I had no idea this was a thing. I didn’t do anything at all regarding emergency supplies. She would have thought that was a bit demeaning and infantilising. We did buy pans and plates and a duvet cover, etc. But she picked what she wanted. That was about it. I didn’t send care packages either.

God, that sounds so utterly dour and cheerless

Sick bowl!! A washing up bowl under the bed, a godsend!

She would have thought that was a bit demeaning and infantilising“

Lots of this year’s first timers haven’t had the same opportunities to develop their independence than previous cohorts and will need more guidance.

I had no idea this was a thing. I didn’t do anything at all regarding emergency supplies. She would have thought that was a bit demeaning and infantilising. We did buy pans and plates and a duvet cover, etc. But she picked what she wanted. That was about it. I didn’t send care packages either

We had lots of fun doing it. We had 20 pockets to fill and their ideas of what they needed were very different to mine. They didn't need me to do it nor did I make them feel childish for us enjoying doing it together.

Sometimes you just need to have some fun in the smallest things.

@daisypond

I had no idea this was a thing. I didn’t do anything at all regarding emergency supplies. She would have thought that was a bit demeaning and infantilising. We did buy pans and plates and a duvet cover, etc. But she picked what she wanted. That was about it. I didn’t send care packages either.

Give over

I talked about thsi thread at lunch time.

I was smiling at the fairy lights and car full of air fryers etc.

dd1 (16) - but mum, most of the girls going to uni really will have that.
dh - no seriously? scatter cushions and fairy lights? At uni?????
ds (18) - heading to uni in 2 weeks, and currently ill with tonsilitis - medical kit and mugs sounds great mum, yes please.

and he would really like an air fryer next year when he moves out of catered accommodation. When it comes to his bacon breakfasts, he will go a long way.

Toastie maker a uni essential!

Lots of plasters and antiseptic and a dental repair kit is also good