It’s that time of the year when college students start to get sick. The adrenaline from the start of the year has worn off, they’re up late with friends, in the thick of studying, and forgetting that self care (like a good night’s sleep and staying hydrated) is necessary. Now is a great time to put together a get well soon care package for a sick college student and send it as a preventative measure before they feel miserable.
Last week my daughter called, telling us she wasn’t feeling well. The plague, as she called it, was going through friend group and she could tell she was coming down with something. It brought me back to her freshman year when we got a very similar call.
She was less than a month into her first year and from the opposite coast, I could tell wasn’t feeling good as soon as she said hello. Asking “How are you?” confirmed it as she told me all about her symptoms. Now as a senior, she’s more experienced at adulting and knows what she needs to do to take care of herself even as midterms approach. But as her mom, I wish there was more I could do for her and her brother, a sophomore attending college halfway across the country.
As a mom of two college students, I like to make sure they were well stocked with cold and flu supplies, comfort foods they could make in their rooms when they don’t feel like trekking to the dining hall, and put together a care package to let them know they’re loved.
How to Take Care of a Sick College Student from Afar
Whether your college student is on the other side of the state or country, when they call and they’re sick, it’s because they need us. Here the 4 things I do when my college-age kids call and tell me they’re not feeling well.
1. Drop Everything and Listen
When your college student calls or Facetimes when they’re sick, they need us to listen and feel sorry for them just like when they were little. Since they’re more likely to call us before visiting campus health or initiating a telehealth visit, they might be calling for our help to figure out whether they have a cold, the flu, COVID or something else that would require medical attention.
2. Help Them Figure Out How to Treat Their Symptoms
These days we’re all wondering if it’s cold, flu, or COVID! If what they have could be remedied by over-the-counter medicine, ask what they have on hand. My son has the Ultimate College First Aid Kit in his dorm room. I love that it contains everything he needs to start feeling better fast as soon as he starts to feel sick. This incredibly well-organized toolbox is a college must-have because it is so thoughtfully stocked with over 30 different kinds of medications that your college student will really use. The Travel Kit is also a great compact option.
If your college student calls before you have a chance to order the College First Aid Kit and doesn’t have meds they need that can help them feel better, place an order from Target. Orders of $35 and more can often be delivered the same day or the day after. Over the counter cold and flu relief type meds from Target tend to be a better price than Amazon, especially when you buy generic.
Here’s what we always make sure our kids have on hand in their dorm room. All items are linked to Target so you can add things to your cart and place an order to send to your college student.
- Advil or Tylenol (or generic ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
- Daytime/Nighttime Severe Cold & Flu (like DayQuil/NyQuil)
- Allergy meds (generic Zyrtec, Allegra, Claritin, etc.)
- Nasal spray (generic Flonase tends to work for our family best)
- Nuun Immunity or Nuun Vitamins tablets to boost immunity and replenish electrolytes to prevent dehydration and/or Emergen-C Immune+
- COVID tests (order 4 free ones to send to your college student via gov beginning later this month!) and masks
- Digital thermometer
- Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick to help moisturize dry, chapped lips
- Any other over the counter or homeopathic meds they would take at home when sick
Since any Target order over $35 ships free so you can also add tissues, lip balm, hand soap, hand sanitizer, laundry detergent, and any other supplies they might be running out of to make their lives a bit easier.
3. Assist Them in Seeking Medical Care
If you suspect they might have something more serious, insist they seek medical help from campus health or your health care provider’s telehealth services. Trust your instinct and teach them to do the same.
First year college students might not know what on-campus health services can provide or where the closest urgent care is located. While we want our college students to adult, when they’re sick, they’re less able to funcion so help them determine what kind of care they need with a quick Google search. Also help them figure out how they can get there (campus shuttle, friend’s car, Uber/Lyft). If they’re sick, they’re probably not up for public transportation unless it’s really convenient.
While we want our college students to be independent young adults, but when they’re sick they’re not at their best. Trying to navigate health care when they’re sick seems like a monumental task and I’ve found a little help goes a long way!
4. Send a Get Well Soon Care Package
A get well soon care package for a sick college student is most welcome. When college students are sick, they struggle to take care of themselves. They feel too crappy to venture out to the dining hall for food they may or may not want to eat. Honestly sometimes it’s better if they stay put and don’t spread the crud to others on campus!
Thankfully online ordering and fast delivery services make it easy to send a get well soon care package for a sick college student. An Instacart delivery or GrubHub order of comfort food goes a long way.
I personally love using Amazon Prime to order shelf stable items my daughter can use now and have on hand the next time she doesn’t feel well feeling good. Amazon has a better variety than what’s available through Target.
Here are some of my daughter’s favorite things to be able to reach for when she’s sick that can be easily ordered through Amazon Prime.
Instant Miso Soup Variety Pack
Miso soup packets are something my daughter keeps in her room because she can make them quickly by adding hot water. They’re great when she’s not feeling well because the tofu gives her a bit of protein and they’re mild in flavor. I like this set of 20 because there are 5 different flavors- tofu, green onion, wakame seaweed, fried bean curd, and spinach- and they’re vegetarian friendly.
True Primal Soups
I love the pouches of True Primal soups because they’re a convenient, quick, easy, and nutritious meal when your college student is under the weather. I can personally attest to the Tuscan-Style Chicken and Roasted Chicken Soups being hearty and delicious. They’re also a nice gluten-free, paleo-friendly alternative to all other canned soups making them a good pantry staple as a quick and nourishing meal option any time.
Tasty Bite Indian Variety Pack
There are times when my daughter is sick and she wants something super flavorful that she doesn’t have to leave her dorm room to eat. Tasty Bite’s Indian pouches were a favorite at home and are also a great thing to have on hand. The single serving pouches are nourishing and full of flavor thanks to lentils and chickpea protein and abundant vegetables. These microwavable meals are also vegetarian.
Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea Sampler
Your student could probably snag tea bags from their dining hall when they’re feeling better but for now, add this Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea Sampler to your order. The 18 count box contains 5 different flavors (chamomile, Lemon Zinger, peppermint, honey vanilla chamomile, and Sleepytime) to give them a nice variety.
I recently made a trip to Boulder to visit the Celestial Seasonings factory while in Denver. Not only did I do their Tea Tour but I tasted many of their teas in the tasting room. Their teas are made of the best herbs and a majority of their varieties are caffeine-free. I really liked their TeaWell line that support immune health and comes in flavors like Ginger Mint, Lemon Ginger, and Honey Lemon. Both are great to include in a get well soon care package for a sick college student!
Here are some other supplies to include in a get well soon care package for a sick college student that are helpful to have and use throughout the year:
Humidifier
I am in love with Hey Dewy’s wireless rechargeable cool mist humidifier that is the perfect size for a small dorm room that can really help combat dry air to relieve dry, itchy throats and runny noses.
Electric Kettle
Every college student needs one of these to make hot tea or instant soup if they don’t have a microwave in their room.
Insulated Mug
An insulated mug is a must as weather turns cold to keep hot beverages hot during classes, lectures, labs, and studying. My daughter loves her Well Told Custom Tumbler ($34.95) that features a map her hometown. The triple-wall vacuum insulated stainless-steel tumbler keeps drinks hot for 12 hours or cold for 24 and features an easy slide-close lid for on-the-go spill protection.
A Box of Hugs!
And if your student just needs a hug, I love BOXFULL OF COLLEGE HUGS’ Original Bear Hug in a Box as the next best thing. Your sick college student will feel your love and warmth when they open the box to find a new fuzzy friend (you get to choose the animal) with outstretched arms, ready to give them a hug. They’ll also find a special poem and a message where you can write a note of support and encouragement.
Samples were received to facilitate this post but all opinions are my own. Affiliate links are included in this post. Images courtesy of the companies.
