I have kids, lots of them ranging from 2.5 to 18yrs old.. I have 5 kids and 5 dogs. 2 labs, 1 boston terrier and 2 yorkies. I was up in the air on whether I wanted a yorkie or maltese just like you. After researching It seemed to me that they were so similiar that my deciding factor was eye stains.. much easier to keep a yorkies face looking nice then a maltese... probably a weird deciding factor but just the same that is what I made my decision on.
Now as far as kids and dogs, regardless of which you decide on don't plan on them being dogs for your kids... if thats what your looking for then you need to go with much more kid friendly dogs which imo are retrievers.. hands down. If you have allergies obviously they are not an option for you. My yorkies are MY dogs, my older children are allowed to interact with them (10, 15, 18) but my little ones aren't. They are always supervised or in their ex pen, not just because of my little ones but because of the big dogs as well. If they are out running about the room my youngest son knows he can't walk in the room, its against my rules because even though he is good with the dogs accidents happen and I he could trip and fall on one of them which could be fatal, they are now 3.2lbs and 2.4lbs respectively. I did not intend on my oldest one to be so tiny but even if she ended up 7lbs I would handle things the same way.
Ok, probably way more info then you asked for but I know you were looking for true opinions on the breed and kids so I think I gave you mine
I don't feel as though telling you that neither is a good choice is any help for anyone. I would have been extremely irritated if people were telling me that I shouldn't get the breed that I was looking for just because I had or was planning on having children.