Sending a kid off to college for the first time can be an exciting (and terrifying) time, for both teens and parents. And when it comes to moving into a dorm room, back-to-school shopping takes on a whole new meaning. Gone are the days of buying a few notebooks and folders — now it's all about Twin XL sheets, laptops, mini fridges, and laundry baskets. Aside from those big-ticket items, though, there are a lot of other must-haves. Here are some things college students need for their dorm rooms:
Béis 'The Weekender' Bag
If you want to make it easier for your teen to take weekend trips home to visit you, make sure to get them a great travel bag. The Weekender is great for quick visits or long trips; it has a laptop compartment, a clip for keys, multiple organizational pockets, a zip-off base compartment, and a trolley passthrough for suitcase handles.
Hydration Bundle
When kids go off to college, it's often the first time they're fully responsible for their health and wellness. Help your college student stay healthy and hydrated with the Vitapod Go Bestseller Bundle. The set comes with the Vitapod Go bottle and a variety of bestselling pods, including Beauty+ Raspberry Hibiscus, Immunity+ Blackberry Mint, and Hydra+ Blueberry Pomegranate. Formulated by doctors, each pod contains vitamins A, C, D, and E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, and electrolytes.
Wearable Wellness Device
There are a lot of wearable wellness devices out there, but most of them just track your health stats — the Apollo Neuro actively improves your wellness. Going to college can be a stressful experience, so help your student manage their stress and improve their mental wellness with the Apollo Neuro. The device is meant to improve your body’s resilience to stress, helping you relax, sleep, focus, recover, and feel better overall.
Desk Organizer
$22
from
Crate & Barrel
College students spend a lot of time at their desks, whether they're studying, eating, or watching television. Help them keep things organized with a desk organizer — perfect for pens and pencils, highlighters, glasses, remotes, and anything else they might want to keep within reach.
Washable Rug
Dorm rooms often have boring, unappealing floors — they're often covered in linoleum or carpet tiles. Bring a little personality to the room with a lightweight, washable rug. My Magic Carpet is a non-slip rug that fits into any standard washer and dryer. This collection, designed by Genevieve Gorder, features stylish and timeless rugs in neutral colors.
Clamp Light
Dorm room overhead lights can create an unpleasant atmosphere, so make sure your teen has a couple of lamps. This clamp light can clip onto a desk or a bed to direct light at books or notes.
Board Games
$65
from
Across the Board
It's always good to have a few good board games in your dorm room, so send your teen off to college with a game from Across the Board. The brand has a variety of high quality games, including baseball, football, golf, basketball, and more. Some of the games are even available with specific university branding!
Daily Sunscreen
It's important to wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine. Encourage your college student to protect their skin by getting them the Onekind Solardrops SPF 55 Daily Broad Spectrum Serum. The sunscreen serum is comfortable to wear and universally flattering. Not only does it protect the skin from the sun's harsh rays, it also provides essential hydration.
Desk Chair
Dorm room desk chairs are incredibly uncomfortable, so make studying a more enjoyable experience by getting your teen a better chair. This one has a mesh back and a padded seat to provide support without breaking the bank.
Light Therapy Lamp
$99
from
Bright Health
Help your college student take care of themselves mentally and physically with a light therapy lamp. This full-spectrum light therapy lamp from Bright Health mimics sunlight to help your body's melatonin and serotonin production. These hormones affect sleep-wake cycles, energy levels, and emotional balance, so the lamp can provide a number of benefits, from boosting your energy, to sleeping better, to improving your mood.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, LittleThings may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
