This bed is sturdy and fairly easy to assemble. I did it myself in a couple of hours. My daughter really enjoys it. There has been some wear and tear on the fabric pieces that occurred sooner than I thought they should. The small screen window above the mattress has already torn. Also there are some marks of pulling/strained fabric near the velcro areas that hold the top fabric piece down. The few of the velcro straps that hold up the "house" area fabric need to be adjusted or stuck back together usually once a week. All of this could have occurred from vigorous play. We did not attach the shelf. Overall, I am very pleased with this bed and it was a great price. I would recommend purchasing it.