Dorm Room Must-Haves: What Our College Kid Actually Used
- Brooke Silva
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
(Straight from a real mom of a first-time college student)
Sending your child off to college is one of the most exciting—and emotionally overwhelming—moments of parenting. Whether you’re shopping dorm essentials, Googling “college move-in day checklist,” or frantically reading blog posts at 1AM titled What Does My Freshman REALLY Need?—I see you. I was you. (Don't forget to check with the school for what is and what is NOT allowed!)
As parents, we worry.
Are they studying? Making safe choices? Eating something besides pizza rolls? Will they feel at home in a brand-new place with unfamiliar faces? When was the last time they showered?
We bought it all—planners, storage bins, colorful pens, a new backpack... but in the end, it was the little things that made the biggest difference for our middle son’s comfort, confidence, and sanity.
Here are the dorm room supplies, college survival products, and wellness items he said were the BEST—and actually used all year long.
For prescription meds, passport, cash, or just peace of mind—this safe can even be locked to the bedpost. Make sure you both know the code!
Don’t splurge. They will lose them. Stick with insulated bottles that keep drinks cold and won’t break the bank. Buy fun stickers for them at the school store!
🧼 Cleaning & Laundry Basics
Disinfecting wipes are a must. Talk to roommates ahead of time to split the supply list. Keep it simple and stock up on multipurpose items.
🏷️ Write-On Laundry Labels + Fabric Marker
Towels, sheets, blankets—stuff gets lost in shared laundry rooms. These labels (and a good fabric marker) make sure it all finds its way home.
🎧 Over-Ear Headphones
AirPods are fine, but over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones are a lifesaver in noisy dorms. More comfort, better focus, less distraction. I also hate the way I feel after just an hour using them. Imagine our kids who never seem to have them out of their ears. Let's give those ear canals a break!
Let’s be real: dorm mattresses are terrible. This is one place you should not skimp. A good night’s sleep = a better semester.
When homesickness hits, printed photos from home and a few cozy lights make all the difference. Easy to hang with Command hooks, too.
Storage space is premium. These rolling bins are perfect for clothes, snacks, or extra towels. Label them for even more sanity.
Small, quiet, and powerful—this fan saved our son during heat waves and helped him sleep through dorm noise. Bonus: no cords needed.
Outlets are rare. Get a couple of surge protectors with USB ports so your student can charge all their gear at once.
☕ Mini Fridge + Microwave + Coffee Gear
Check dorm rules before you buy! If allowed, these are life-savers for late-night meals and early-morning classes.
💊 Recovery + Hydration Packets
Parties will happen. These help them bounce back and make it to class the next day. Think of it as “preventative parenting.”
Game. Changer. More storage and more places to charge devices. Why didn’t we invent these?
Use vertical space! Great for creating a snack station, storing paper towels, or giving the fridge a proper home.
Suitcases are bulky. These bags hold more, are easier to carry, and fold flat for storage. Grab two—you’ll thank yourself later.
🩹 First Aid Kit (Beefed Up!)
Load it up with cold meds, pain relievers, Band-Aids, Neosporin, and more. This is the kit they’ll forget about until they really need it. Our son got really sick around late fall. He ran out of cold supplies and because he was contagious and couldn't answer the door to prove he was 18+, I had to make the drive out there to bring supplies! Load them up.
💌 Care Packages, Snacks, and Gift Cards
The most meaningful thing we did?
We sent silly cards, printed photos, and filled snack boxes with:
Ramen, Pop-Tarts, protein bars
Reduced sodium chicken noodle soup for sick days
Grocery store gift cards with just enough to restock food—but not enough to blow on DoorDash
These small reminders of home helped our son feel seen, supported, and fed even when the dining hall felt a million miles away.
Here are my final thoughts. You'll either have to send more stuff or they will send stuff home they don't need. Dorm essentials are different to every person and what their needs are.
You don’t need to buy everything on the “official” packing lists. You just need the things that actually make life easier and help your student feel more at home in their new space.
Whether you’re prepping for move-in day, building your college dorm checklist, or just trying to survive the back-to-school shopping season without crying in a Target aisle… you’ve got this.
XOXO
Brooke
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