Loooove this bed. Really cute- perfect for our 3 year old. She got the hang of climbing up almost right away, but  still struggles climbing down- that will come with time.  My husband was able to put this together mostly on his own, although at one point he called for my assistance as it became a 2 person job.  We bought an 8 inch mattress which is thick enough for support and comfort and still allows for enough space for the safety bar to do it’s thing. Very happy with this purchase!