General guidance, not your league's equipment rulebook. Bats must meet your league's standards (USA stamp, length and weight limits) — confirm before buying.
The list
What you actually need
Three true must-haves — everything else is convenience that piles on.
- A glove that fits. Small hands need small gloves. A glove too big wrecks confidence; buy for now, not for "room to grow."
- A league-legal bat. USA/tee-ball stamp, and length and weight their swing can control — not the biggest one they can lift.
- A fitted helmet. Non-negotiable; check the size range against your kid's head.
- Cleats or turf shoes. Comfort and fit rule; the logo doesn't score runs.
- Sliding shorts. Once sliding starts, the padding makes the difference between brave and flinching.
Sizing
Bat and glove sizes that fit
The two sizing mistakes parents make: bat too long, glove too big. Both wreck the fun on purpose.
| Age (typical) | Bat length | Glove size |
|---|---|---|
| 5–7 | 25–26 in | 9 in |
| 8–9 | 27–29 in | 10–11 in |
| 10–12 | 30–31 in | 11–12 in |
Rough ranges only. Weight (the "drop") matters as much as length, and your league's limits matter most — always buy within them.
Costs
What a first season really costs
More than the registration fee you actually remember paying.
- Registration — the fee you'll quote to family.
- Gear — glove, bat, helmet, cleats: expect to refresh sizes within two seasons.
- Uniform extras — pants, belts, socks, and the photo package.
- Tournament weekends — extra fees, gas, and the part nobody budgets.
The smart play: treat outgrowing as normal, buy reasonable quality instead of premium, and ask the league what registration covers before you shop — not after.
Saving
Where it's fine to save
- Bats: the expensive -3 drop models are for high schoolers. A legal, correctly sized bat beats any "pro" bat kids can't swing.
- Gloves: mid-range and well-fitted beats flagship and too big. Fit is the feature.
- Cleats: comfort and fit rule. The logo doesn't score runs.
- Backyard sets and extras: fun, fine — but they're the add-on aisle, not the list.
The short version
Buy the minimum, size it right, and save on the add-ons: glove, legal bat, helmet, shoes, sliding shorts — refreshed as they grow. For the exact gear we bought for our young ballplayer, see the baseball gear guide.