Our family is a baseball family for sure!  We’re also a Berkey family and often times we get asked the question, "How do you hydrate for baseball?"

We all know hydration is important during the hot baseball months of May-September, depending upon where you live.

Did you know it’s just as important to have proper hydration during baseball January-April?

During the season, our son plays games every week and sometimes on a weekend the boys can play up to three games in one day!

Why Is Proper Hydration Important For Baseball Players?

According to Dr. Lindsay Baker, “As little as two (2) percent dehydration (2 percent drop in body weight through fluid loss) is associated with impaired performance during stop-and-go sports, such as baseball.”

Without proper hydration, your child could feel fatigued and lose concentration as well in as little as two or three innings.

I know the climate plays a role as well.  Whether you're in the Arizona dry heat, Tennessee humidity, or the warm crisp California climate, you should be prepared for hydration no matter what. 

How To Properly Hydrate for Baseball Games and Practices

Don't wait until you're thirsty.  Thirst indicates that dehydration is already taking affect. The goal is to not be thirsty.

It’s usually recommended your youth baseball player drink 16 ounces of water an hour before the first pitch.

Then drink six ounces every two innings.

Ditch the Traditional Sports Drinks

Our family has been around baseball a really long time.  A parent’s go-to in more situations or not is a single bottle of a popular sports drink.  You know the ones I’m talking about, right?

They taste good, but did you know they contain massive amounts of sugar, food colorings, and a myriad of other unhealthy ingredients?

It could become counterproductive drinking those and even cause a sugar crash an inning or two later.

Wise Family Recommended Drinks for Baseball

Before a game, we pack multiple stainless steel bottles of cold Berkey filtered water for our son.  Even one game in the hot sun will require two bottles of water.

For days when there is the possibility of three games, we pack several bottles for our baseball player.

A great alternative to sugary sports drinks is something we buy called LMNT.  These are individual electrolyte packets that are flavored.

They support energy levels, endurance, and recovery.  There is no sugar, no artificial ingredients, and are super easy to use.

They use a scientifically backed ratio of sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

Our son really enjoys this drink and it helps during the games.

Baseball Water Bottle Recommendation

There are hundreds of baseball water bottles to choose from, but our family recommends you stay away from plastic.

I know they are cheap, but they could also leach microplastics in your water, which is something you want to avoid.

Our family exclusively uses stainless steel water bottles or glass bottles.

Drinking Enough Water During Baseball

Follow these recommended water guidelines and your baseball player won’t have to worry about dehydration during a game or practice.

Instead, they should be focused on the sport and how they can best support their team.

These simple steps cannot only maintain your child’s health, but also benefit it greatly! Have a great season!