We considered hardwood or laminate, but eventually ended up with commercial grade, padless carpet. We LOVE it! It has no pad underneath, so it doesn’t absorb anything like pee or vomit. This is the easiest surface to clean in my home, and I have laminate in the kitchen & entryway. The kids love it because they still have traction for running at a hundred miles per hour, and it keeps the noise level down and is warm in the winter. Very easy to keep clean and no pad which is like a giant sponge that absorbs EVERYTHING. I’ll never have carpet with a pad under it again.