This bed is perfect for my granddaughter! She's been wanting a bunkbed. I love that it's toddler friendly and lower to the ground. Her existing mattress is 12 inches and doesn't leave much space above the protective rail, but we plan on buying an attachable protective rail, just for safety. We recommend a 6-8 inch mattress, as it would be a better match for this bed. Assembly took a reasonable amount of time, and the instructions were basic but effective. We've created a space underneath for her to relax and hangout. We've also ordered new bedding and bunk bed curtains to add a cozy and private area to the bottom, but are currently waiting on it's arrival. We removed 1 star due to the width of the support poles. We thought they would be much thicker. However, this is a great supportive and transitional bed for any toddler!