The season for baby showers and buying gifts, or outfitting your own nursery, is about to begin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more babies are born in the summer months, particularly September, than any other time of year. Expecting parents wanting to get everything in order will be registering now and having their showers starting this spring.

If you find yourself among the invitees to one of these events, you might be asking yourself: What do I buy? My suggestion is to bring something that's both utilitarian and long-lasting. The more something can be used (and the longer it can be used) means more savings. Before you spring for a random gift on a baby registry, or register for something yourself, check out my top three baby products.

Strollers

Common pitfalls: Many parents buy some or all of the following: a frame stroller, a regular stroller, an umbrella stroller for quick trips or travel, a jogging stroller and a double stroller. Yes, that many strollers actually exist. And picking one is almost worse than trying to decide on which vehicle to buy. Is it safe? Does it have shock absorption? Can you run with it? Is it light? Easy to fold? Have a hand and foot break? Carry a baby seat? Have adequate storage? Come in pretty colors? You get the picture.

Savings advice: Buy a jogging stroller and a car seat adapter to make the stroller a travel system. That eliminates the need for a frame stroller, regular stroller and jogging stroller. For the road warriors out there, many of the models have travel-friendly features, such as wheels that pop off with the touch of a button and a handle that collapses the entire stroller with one pull. If you're worried about what to do with two kids, eliminate the need for a double stroller by purchasing a glider board on which an older child can hitch a ride.

The best part about this option is that, unlike a frame stroller or some of the other options, most jogging strollers accommodate children who weigh as much as 75 pounds. It will grow with your lifestyle changes and you'll need only one. Yes, at anywhere from $90 to $500 it can cost more than the other options (an umbrella stroller goes for about $20 and a frame stroller for about $100), but if you look at the big picture and the fact that this really is the only stroller you'll ever need, you'll save more in the end (plus, who has room to store all those strollers?).

Baby Swings and Bouncy Seats

Common pitfalls: Expecting parents inevitably get loads of advice about how babies like the swing better. Unfortunately, they equally hear advice about how the bouncy seat is what babies most prefer. It can be pretty confusing, and a lot of expecting parents I know end up buying both. However, in the end it really comes down to what that particular baby likes. So what's a parent to do?

Savings advice: With the price of a baby swing going for as much as $200 and the cost of a bouncy seat running about $25, that's quite an investment to make just to ensure the bases are covered. But there's another option, and it's considerably cheaper: Buy a swing that converts to a bouncy seat. With options starting at about $68, it's a choice you can afford, especially if you go in on the gift with friends.

Bassinets, Cradles and Portable Cribs

Common Pitfalls: Many parents prefer that the baby sleep in their room the first few weeks or months, and therefore buy a bassinet or cradle. Many babies, though, outgrow those sleeping arrangements quickly and move to a crib shortly after the newborn stage.

Savings Advice: Instead of investing in something you or your recipient will get to use for such a short period of time, purchase a portable crib. Many feature a bassinet, changing station and even a mobile for baby to look at, all of which can be removed when the time is right. Most of the bassinets can accommodate babies up to 15 pounds, and the portable crib can hold kids up to 35 inches, meaning it'll get some mileage. This has been a lifesaver for my family. It lived in our room the first three months, and we now use it for travel so we can rest easy knowing the baby has a safe place to sleep no matter where we go. An added bonus? We didn't have to worry about the transition from a cozy bassinet to a large crib.