Hi, I have just bought this and have realised that even at the highest setting the crib mattress is not the same level as my mattress - it's about 7cm lower. The top of the side bar when lowered is exactly the same level as the top of my mattress though. I am assuming that this is a safety feature of the newer model so that there is no danger of the baby rolling over onto out bed in the night? I imagine that it makes it slightly harder to get the baby out of the crib (as compared to the older model) but if it's in the name of safety I guess that's fine. Baby hasn't arrive yet so haven't used the product and would be interested in hearing how it work in practice especially from those with a higher bed meaning that the crib mattress is lower that theirs...