Pretty soon, millions of young adults will head off to college with a hint of anticipation and appreciation. Many of them will expectedly be staying in tiny door rooms. But some will find the transition more difficult than others which is why it’s better to get started and make preparations earlier.

Bed Bath and Beyond has this very comprehensive tips for both incoming college students and parents. I’ll highlight the ones that relate to mattress needs:

– Check it Off. Use a comprehensive checklist to figure out what you need to buy and what you can take from home. Bedbathandbeyond.com offers a checklist broken down by category.

– Split it Up. Students should reach out to their roommates before they shop to decide who is bringing what so they avoid bringing (and buying) duplicates.

– Check it Out. Before you shop, check with your college or university on the size of your mattress. Is it a twin or extra long twin? It would be a shame to buy the perfect sheets and then find out they are too small.

– Don’t Drive Yourself Nuts! Gone are the days of bungee cording the trunk closed. Bed Bath & Beyond stores offer a unique “Pack & Hold”(TM) service that eliminates the hassle of packing the car. Students simply shop at a store near home and then pick the items up at a store near their college, or choose to have the items shipped directly to their school.

– Don’t Forget to Make Your Bed. When you get to your dorm room, cover your mattress with a mattress protector, a quilted mattress pad, a feather bed, and finally new sheets and comforter. You’ll feel like you’re sleeping at a four star hotel, not the freshman quad.

– Don’t Panic. As prepared as you are, chances are you will forget something. Relax … bedbathandbeyond.com offers a college/store locator that makes it easy to find the store closest to your college to get the things most likely forgotten, such as hangers, extension cords and surge protectors.

Via Bed Bath and Beyond