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?

I always wanted a magic Mum-Fairy - alas it wasn't something she believed in, she was much too busy for superfluous parenting, but I'll partake in a bit of supplementary cosseting - just a bit.

I always wanted one too! I was more than able to do everything myself (I had no choice!) but some of these packages sound lovely. It's not what's in them- it's the love and thought that's behind them!!

@NerrSnerr

I always wanted a magic Mum-Fairy - alas it wasn't something she believed in, she was much too busy for superfluous parenting, but I'll partake in a bit of supplementary cosseting - just a bit.

I always wanted one too! I was more than able to do everything myself (I had no choice!) but some of these packages sound lovely. It's not what's in them- it's the love and thought that's behind them!!

God yes - it was the thought - someone thinking of you. I was able to do everything, my kids can do everything for themselves too, nothing wrong with a thoughtful emergency shoebox gift (and a lovely note). My Mum just wasn't the sort to think of anyone else.

It’s so great now that we have deliveroo, uber eats etc. My DD isn’t well at the moment and I’ve just ordered her favourite breakfast from pret.

My DD lived and worked independently for a year in a far-away country where she knew no-one or the language and she was the only foreigner before she went to university. She sorted everything herself - work visa, tax forms, sorting out gas and electricity, accommodation, setting up a bank account abroad and a broadband contract, registering for healthcare, never mind cooking, shopping, laundry - all while holding down a full-time job and not knowing the language. We did send care packages then from the UK., because it was so tough out there and it was difficult for her, and sometimes lonely. But when she went to university in the UK, no, we didn’t set up an emergency box of supplies. She was living in a UK city. We did buy a duvet and pots and pans for her, but we don’t have a car so couldn’t transport her. She bought all her initial stuff in her university city and we paid for it, plus a first supermarket shop.

@Bagelsandbrie

I hadn’t thought about any of this

I was just planning to send her off with bedding, clothes and some kitchen stuff!

Good ideas.

That's enough. Part of being at uni is growing up and dealing with emergencies yourself. Great to have parents at the end of a phone but there are shops, pharmacists and GPS in a uni towns!!

@Havanananana

How times have changed.

I can't remember anyone turning up with a care box when I went to Uni (many moons ago) and I think we would have laughed ourselves silly had anyone actually done so.

My neighbour in halls did receive something from home about six weeks into the first term. This was long before the days of mobile phones and internet and there was only one phone in halls for about 400 resident students. She received an envelope, in which was a stamped addressed envelope, addressed to her parents, and two blank sheets of writing paper. I think that they were hinting.

I am 54, so went to uni in 1988, over 30 years ago. I had a car, so drove myself, most others had parents dropping off. Very few came on public transport.

Most of us LOVED getting things from home. We were envious of the parents who sent small parcels. They didn't happen often, but they happened, and no, we didn't laugh ourselves silly.
I don't think any of us had a box made up for us by our mums, and certainly our mums would not have done most of the things on this thread, but our mums had been involved in helping us get ready and pack, I remember asking mum if I could pinch things from the first aid box for example, and many of us had had a little Tesco trip and came with a bag of cake/T-bags etc.

As I've said up thread, my ds really 100% doesn't need this, but I know that taking him out to help him get what he needs is a nice things to do together, and sends him off well. We won't be buying fairy lights and scatter cushions, but bedding and first aid kits are on the list.

Later on I got my DC toastie/panini makers sent via Argos. DD also got a nutri bullet at some point to make smoothies.

Definitely door wedge, fan, condoms and booze alongside the medicines and food staples.

I'm feeling slightly guilty that I didn't think to do any sort of 'care' package thing when ds1 went to uni five years ago. I remember going to TK Maxx and Sainsbury's and getting nice quality bedding, a lamp, and the usual essential supplies of washing tablets, shampoo, pasta etc. But I didn't think to do a surprise shoebox, and I kind of wish I had.

I paid his phone contract for the duration of his uni days, and sent an occasional supermarket delivery for him and his flatmates to share (he skipped halls and went straight to sharing a flat) that contained a few treats that they wouldn't have been able to routinely afford. Just didn't think of doing anything else.

@ninja

I was just planning to do a massive supermarket shop with her when I take her down - I thought that'd leave more space in the car for all of her stuff. Stock up on cupboard food, medicine, washing stuff, alcohol and anything else she realises she's forgotten!

We did this when dd went 3 years ago (mainly because we didn't have room in the car for food because large instrument) and we wanted to help her suss out a decent shop in walking distance, however everyone had clearly had the same idea and the shop looked like it had been looted! So it might be worth taking a few essentials for the first few days, just in case, if you have room?

DD was lucky and got on well with her flatmates and they quickly started meal planning and having an online shopping delivery every week which saved them all loads of money, and they would also take turns to cook for everyone which worked well for them. (It fizzled out in the second term mind you lol) They used an app (I'll ask her the name and add it later) for keeping track of money they owed each other (as one of her flatmates was really picky about that) but it was especially useful in their shared house when splitting utilities bills etc

I'm going to get DS a cheap concertina file/folder thing as DD had one for her student finance documents/passport etc and it worked well. Do they have to take a passport still I wonder - I'm sure DD had to to register at the uni initially? Need to get him to check that .......

@JockTamsonsBairns

I'm feeling slightly guilty that I didn't think to do any sort of 'care' package thing when ds1 went to uni five years ago. I remember going to TK Maxx and Sainsbury's and getting nice quality bedding, a lamp, and the usual essential supplies of washing tablets, shampoo, pasta etc. But I didn't think to do a surprise shoebox, and I kind of wish I had.

I paid his phone contract for the duration of his uni days, and sent an occasional supermarket delivery for him and his flatmates to share (he skipped halls and went straight to sharing a flat) that contained a few treats that they wouldn't have been able to routinely afford. Just didn't think of doing anything else.

I honestly think this is fine - my Mum didn't do anything - I took myself off to Uni with all I could carry (begged from what was in the house) on public transport, they were very reluctant to supplement my reduced grant, I was financially all over the place - I ended up getting too reliant on living with a lot of debt. There are things that help kids - smoothing out their income if you can to ensure they have a predictable amount coming in, so they can set themselves up with good financial habits and properly budget - buying them the odd weekly shop is great but they need financial stability. I learned too many lessons the hard way. Teach them to budget, to clean the loo and to cook.

@iknowimcoming good thought - we could only get an early morning slot amd so are going down the night before so maybe we can shop then, leave it in the hotel room and then take it over

Some posters have a very dour, cheerless and utilitarian approach to parenting. Did you know that you're allowed to sometimes be a bit frivolous and indulgent toward your children, regardless of how old they are?

@peaceanddove

Some posters have a very dour, cheerless and utilitarian approach to parenting. Did you know that you're allowed to sometimes be a bit frivolous and indulgent toward your children, regardless of how old they are?

True but still practical to include books eg, the 48 laws of power, 33 strategies of war, Sun zu the art of war, Dale Carnegie how to win friends and influence people.

Show me the figures for collisions with bikes and cars where the child was injured. I'll bet more children were injured or killed in a car.

No, it's really, really not. If they haven't mastered the art of charming people and making friends by the time they go off to university, then no book in the world is going to help them.

Oops, sorry. That's cut and pasted from different thread.

It was meant to reply to the last post from Hawkins001

Depending on the bed/room type then storage boxes - I had an under bed storage one which I kept my fave mug/glasses, snacks, spare food etc in. Basically anything you don't want to go missing from the kitchen!
Over the door hooks can be useful as additions for hanging towels/dressing gown or air drying clothes
Something for entertainment - I got this for Christmas one year and everyone at work from 18-60 was fighting to play it
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kidult-Addict-Ball-Large-Puzzle/dp/B0031J8Q4E/ref=mpsa131?dchild=1&keywords=puzzle+ball+brain&qid=1630620699&sr=8-31

You don't have to do some but sometimes it's just nice - when I moved house I had been in a b&b for months (my buyers were going to pull out) and my dad sent me off to Tesco with his card to buy everything I needed as I had nothing at all like salt/pepper, cleaning stuff etc! He didn't HAVE to do that but I appreciated it!

I used an old glasses case and made it into a sewing kit. Scissors, thread, pins, safety pins, buttons, press studs, coloured threads etc. It has been used multiple times, and other students in hall have asked her to borrow emergency stuff from it too.

@peaceanddove

Oops, sorry. That's cut and pasted from different thread.

It was meant to reply to the last post from Hawkins001

Fair point but I intend it to be more of a refresher to refine their skills and reflect on their perspectives, I want my troops ready for battle.

Never heard of this! Maybe it's a new thing as I'm in my mid 20s now but if I was ill I went to the pharmacy or GP when needed. I moved out at 14 though and would have cringed at the thought of people thinking I wasn't capable of looking after myself!

Where has anyone suggested they think their student isn't capable of looking after themselves? Nowhere.

As a pp said, there are some dour people on this thread.

some of these packages sound lovely. It's not what's in them- it's the love and thought that's behind them!!

This ^

Back in my student days, people were excited to get a letter delivered. This is just a step up from that. It isn't that the student can't walk to the supermarket and spend 49p on some paracetamol. However, when you aren't feeling well, opening up that old icecream tub your Mum or Dad put together for you to reach for the cold remedy is just a big warm hug from home, which surely all of us appreciate when we are a bit low?
How sad that one or two posters can't see that.

A friend at uni said sometimes it's the little details that all help.

That's a really lovely idea. I'm not going to send anything with my dc though although we've done a big IKEA shop already.

I'll take my dd for a big food and supplies shop when we get up there (did the same for my other dcs),

I'm going to buy her a surprise coffee machine though as she loves ours and doesn't have one. I'll set her up pod subscription. Otherwise she'll have (unauthorised) use of my amazon account (she loves reading and stationery, so she gets away with) . Otherwise she's on her own!

Im not sending a surprise box with her, as she will want to choose her own stuff.
I have started putting together a bag of birthday bits though, as she has a birthday a couple of weeks after we drop her, so Ill give it to her wrapped when we drop her off. So far Ive got some art supplies ( which i know she wanted), and her favourite vegan sweets. I need to find a couple of things she isnt expecting, so am following this thread for ideas.

I suggest finding out what coins the washers need. I always remember scrabbling for £1 coins as I needed 3 to do a load and machines on took £1 coins. Might be nice to send them with a pot so that washing is sorted.

Obviously not applicable to all uni's especially if renting in a house share rather than halls.

Also maybe a crate of beer or a bottle and mixers for the first night. Excellent way to break the ice!!!

Dd went last year so she got sent with a dealing with Covid box too - disposable masks, disposable sprints and gloves, oxygen monitor, thermometer, cold and flu remedies, etc.

@3cats4poniesandababy - the washing machines overwhelmingly don't take cash anymore. Everything seems to happen through apps.