I STILL have carpet in my main play area for the children, and I HATE it! I know it poses a much more "soft" area for play but it gets absolutely disgusting very quick when you have 1 or more babies spitting up and drooling on it all day long. I know laminate and hard wood can run more expensive than the average carpet, if money is a factor for you right now (as it is for me) then maybe you should take the option of a cheaper but "nice" darker or patterned carpet to help hide all the imperfections the kids cause. ! IF you go with flooring you may also want to consider a lower grade laminate for now until the daycare comes to a close then consider option of high grade hard wood? that is my current consideration, my husband refuses to put in hard wood floors right now due to all the wear and tear the daycare brings. (we currently have hard wood up our hallways and they get quite war and scratched from the various activities and all around traffic) but I am seriously considering cheaper laminate for now until the daycare is done or moved elsewhere. I absolutely hate carpet, it sucks up all the dirt and germs and would LOVE to have hard floors that I can just wipe clean when dirty. Good Luck on your choice!