Correct bat size

No, absolutely not. Do not go buy the most expensive bat. Find a bat (and Wal-Mart does sell some good ones) that is comfortable for your kid to swing. Don't make the common mistake and buy a bat that too long or too heavy becasue you want your son to be able to use the bat for 2-3 years. He'll be much bigger and stronger when he's 12. You may want to check with your team. What typically happens is 12 kids bring 12 bats, but they end up all using the popular bat and you carry the other bats to the game for excercise. If you can come so some agreement where you could split the cost of a really nice bat with 4-5 other parents, it may work. However, you'll have to decide who gets the bat at the end of the season.