DD1 has a bed similar to that, she got it for her second birthday. We did not give her the ladder though and she can't climb up or down by herself and does not even try. When she wakes she just calls out to us. Her head is also up the end without the gap. She has never fallen out, just bumped her head, legs and arms on the edges when wriggling around. We also never put the desk part together so she uses that as a little cubby for now. Behind the drawers there is a big gap and that is perfect for storing winter blankets in summer