Best Clean Electrolytes For Kids (Taste Tested By Kids!)
I love having a clean electrolyte on hand that I know my kids will love!
When kids are sweating heavily during sports, outdoor activities, or summer adventures, they may need more than water alone to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Traditional sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade are common choices, but they’re not the only option. A growing number of brands now offer electrolyte products made specifically with kids in mind. Here are my favorite options, along with honest reviews from my own kids.
**I am not a doctor, just sharing what I’ve used with my kids. Please, consult with your physician when using any new products with your children.
**This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you—I only recommend products and brands I genuinely trust and use myself.
Best Clean Electrolytes For Kids – Quick Picks
What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electrical charge when added to water. They help your body regulate the balance of fluids in the body, nerve signaling, muscle contractions, heart rhythm, and other essential functions.
For more electrolyte brands for adults, check out the Best Electrolytes with Clean Ingredients
Why Kids Need Electrolytes
Kids need electrolytes for hydration, muscle function, nerve signaling, growth and development, and recovery from illness.
When should kids use electrolytes?
- Electrolytes can replace fluid losses due to excessive sweating during physically demanding sports and activities.
- Electrolytes can replace fluid losses due to long periods of time outdoors in hot weather.
- Electrolytes can help replace fluids that are lost due to vomiting, diarrhea, or when there’s little fluid intake.
What To Look For In A Clean Electrolyte
Whole Food Ingredient Lists
Flavor Sourcing
A listing of “natural flavor” on a label may seem better than “artificial flavor” but natural flavors can still undergo extensive processing before it reaches a food product. That’s why it’s best if flavor sources are disclosed on the label.
Appropriate Electrolyte Profile
Recommended intake of key electrolytes:
1–3 years: Less than 1,200 mg
4–8 years: Less than 1,500 mg
9–13 years: Less than 1,800 mg
14 and older: Less than 2,300 mg
Birth to 6 months: 400 mg
7-12 months: 860 mg
1-3 years: 2,000 mg
4-8 years: 2,300 mg
9-13 years: 2,500 mg male/2,300 mg female
14-18 years: 3,000 mg male/2,300 mg
0-6 months: 30 mg
7-12 months: 75 mg
1-3 years: 80 mg
4-8 years: 130 mg
9-13 years: 240 mg
14-18 years: 410 mg male/360 mg female
Lower Sugar Options
Third-Party Testing
Free of artificial dyes
Check out my favorite Clean Protein Powders!
Ingredients To Avoid In Electrolytes For Kids
- Artificial Food Dyes
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Excess Added Sugar
- Artificial Flavors
- Hidden Preservatives
- Caffeine
- High Sodium
How I Picked The Brands For My Kids To Taste Test
I picked these brands for my kids to try because they are cleaner kids electrolytes brands. There aren’t any artificial sweeteners or sugar added. They are clean formulas, without weird ingredients or fillers. When I was researching kids’ clean electrolytes I found a lot of brands that had added sugar or emulsifiers in them- ingredients I didn’t want my kids consuming.
My Filtered Water Guide will help you find the best type of water filter so you have clean water to use with your electrolytes!
Best Clean Electrolytes For Kids
Hiya Kids Electrolytes
Hiya was founded in 2020 and focuses on products for children, including multivitamins, probiotics, iron supplements, greens powders, and other nutritional products. Their products don’t contain added sugar or any artificial colors or flavors. Every Hiya product undergoes rigorous third-party testing for heavy metals, microbials, and other contaminants and are Clean Label Project Certified.
Best for Travel
They come in packets, making it easy to bring them anywhere!
Dye free – Yes
Added Sugar – 0 grams
Electrolytes
1. Sodium – 85 mg
2. Potassium – 240 mg
3. Magnesium – 25 mg
Kids Taste Test Review
I have 3 kids that tried the electrolytes (fruit punch flavor) and 2 of my kids loved this flavor and 1 didn’t. They said they liked the fruity flavor. My daughter that didn’t like them said she didn’t like the after taste.
What I Like
I like that there is no added sugar or any artificial colors or flavors. I also really like the 3rd party testing they do. The option to purchase as individual sticks (on Amazon) or a reusable canister (on their website) is great too.
What I Don’t Like
I didn’t like that they had limited flavors (Fruit Punch in the Hydration Sticks and Berry in the reusable canister)- would be nice to have more flavor options.
Redmond Re-Lyte for Kids
Redmond Re-Lyte Kids is a pediatrician-approved electrolyte drink mix made from the brand’s Real Salt. Their electrolyte mix is made without any added sugar, artificial dyes or other junk ingredients.
Best for Active Kids
Has the most minerals overall.
Dye free – Yes
Added Sugar – 0 grams
Electrolytes
1. Sodium – 340 mg
2. Potassium – 150 mg
3. Magnesium – 25 mg
Kids Taste Test Review
Everyone liked these! All the flavors they said were good and refreshing. These are the electrolytes they kept asking for again and again!
What I Like
I like that this was formulated with kids in mind – but teens and adults that want a lighter electrolyte drink could drink it too. Ingredients are top notch! They also offer kid-friendly flavors that passed my kids’ test – this makes staying hydrated more enjoyable .
What I Don’t Like
I wish these didn’t have quite as much sodium in them.
Just Ingredients Electrolytes
Just Ingredients was founded by Karalynne Call, a certified nutritionist with a core message of, “simplifying your health journey by simplifying your ingredients”. Their products are third party tested and are created without added sugar or artificial dyes. While the electrolytes are not specifically formulated for children, they do say they are designed to support hydration for the whole family.
Best for The Whole Family
Dye free – Yes
Added Sugar – 0 grams
Electrolytes
1. Sodium – 100 mg
2. Potassium – 300 mg
3. Magnesium – 50 mg
Kids Taste Test Review
They liked some of the flavors but not all of them. They did want to open these first- the packaging must have drawn them in! They liked the Strawberry Limeade and the Raspberry Lemonade the best.
What I Like
I love that Just Ingredients works for the whole family. They offer a unique 3:1 potassium-to-sodium ratio. There is a wide offering of flavors to choose from that use real fruit for the flavor. If one flavor wasn’t a favorite, they have so many to choose from!
What I Don’t Like
There really isn’t anything I didn’t like about them. They really nail the minerals and I like all the flavor options they offer.
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Paleovalley Electrolytes
Paleovalley was co-founded by Autumn Smith, a Doctor of Holistic Nutrition and is focused on creating nutrient-dense products that are minimally processed. The electrolytes are formulated for adults, but I just use half of a scoop for my kids instead of a full scoop.
Best Clean Ingredient Electrolyte
Easy to find, comes in packets and my kids liked all the flavors.
Dye free – Yes
Added Sugar – 0 grams
Electrolytes (Keep in mind I give my kids a 1/2 scoop and these numbers are for a full scoop)
1. Sodium – 400 mg
2. Potassium – 280 mg
3. Magnesium – 160 mg
Kids Taste Test Review
They didn’t like these as much. They don’t have as strong of a flavor they said.
What I Like
I love that these are made with whole-food sourced electrolytes from ancient sea salt, organic coconut water, seaweed extract, and seawater. Beyond electrolytes, these also contain over 60 trace minerals. Paleovalley electrolytes also don’t have citric acid which I appreciate because it can be harmful for their teeth.
What I Don’t Like
I wish these came in packets too. Would be nice for travel!
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Cure Electrolytes
Cure Kids is a children’s hydration line that focuses on electrolyte drink mixes based on the World Health Organization’s oral rehydration solution (ORS) principles. Their electrolyte mixes are pediatrician-approved and provide sodium, potassium, and a small amount of glucose to support hydration.
Best Overall Electrolyte For Kids
Easy to find, comes in packets and my kids liked all the flavors.
Dye free – Yes
Added Sugar – 0 grams
Electrolytes
1. Sodium – 240 mg
2. Potassium – 300 mg
3. Magnesium – 0
Kids Taste Test Review
They liked these a lot! There wasn’t a flavor they didn’t like.
What I Like
I like that they are made with made with real fruit, coconut water, and pink Himalayan salt. Their ingredients are science-backed AND their flavors won my kids over.
What I Don’t Like
They are spendy! They offer 15 servings for nearly the same price as Just Ingredients that offer 30 servings.
Natural Sources of Electrolytes for Kids
Anytime I can give my kids whole food options, that is what I choose. Even electrolytes can be obtained from food sources.
- Magnesium – pumpkin seeds, beans, whole grains, dark chocolate
- Potassium – potatoes, bananas, avocados, dairy products, beans, coconut water
- Sodium – generally sodium is plentiful in the American diet.
Bananas with peanut butter are a good source of magnesium, potassium, and sodium.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do kids need electrolytes every day?
Generally, kids do not need to supplement with electrolytes every day unless they’re sick, in extreme heat or participating in sports or intense activity lasting longer than an hour.
2. What electrolytes are best for young athletes?
With sodium being the primary electrolyte lost in sweat, Cure Kids Electrolytes would be a good option for young athletes. Many kid-based electrolytes focus on potassium, but Cure has 240 mg of sodium and follows the World Health Organization’s oral rehydration solution (ORS) principles.
3. How do I know if my child is dehydrated?
- Decreased urination or darker urine.
- Dry or parched lips or mouth.
- Decreased energy levels such as playing less than normal.
- Increased irritability.
4. Are there any guidelines for appropriate electrolyte intake for kids?
While there aren’t any hard and fast guidelines for electrolyte intake that work for all kids and all contexts, there are general guidelines such as:
- If it’s evident that kids are losing fluids due to longer or heavier heat exposure then electrolyte replacement is generally useful.
- If kids are losing fluids due to vomiting or diarrhea or profound sweating, then an Oral Rehydration Solution may be in order. These are fluids formulated with the correct ratio of sodium and glucose for maximum absorption of water.
Do your kids have a favorite electrolyte? Share below!
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*Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company. I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly. If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product.
*Suzi(Gurl Gone Green) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
