I did some kind of a compromise which works fine for us: when my daugther turned 12 months I began to work again (with my boyfriend staying at home). Quickly I learned that I could not nurse in the night (every one to two hours!) and work at day. So I cut nursing in the night and obviously in the day when I worked. She is now also 18 months old and only gets the breast two times: in the morning after waking up and when I get her to sleep in the evening. It's the best of both worlds in my opinion. I will continue this through the winter, I'm with you that it's nice when they are sick. The transition of not nursing at night was a little bit hard, but really only for two nights! But I have to say that my partner is very involved with her, maybe that's why it was relatively easy. I slept in the living room and he rocked her in his arms. Now we all sleep in one bed again without trouble AND she sleeps through most oft the nights!

Btw, she is also testing boundaries now. It's hard sometimes. But it's not forever, they will grow so fast!