Its that time of year again. Christmas trees lay in abandoned heaps at the curb. “50% Off All Holiday Items” signs sprout up in store windows. And the hum of “Jingle Bells” gives way to the unmistakable, undeniable sound of… sneezing.

For most healthy children, a cold is caused by a virus, not bacteria, so the only “cure” for the common cold is watchful waiting, fluids and TLC. But kids feel terrible when they are sick with bad colds, and parents want to help- but what’s a parent to do now that all the cold medicines have been recalled and regulated?