The Zoobie Jigsaw is a highchair that is genuinely stylish. With its chic wooden finish, tasteful contrasting cushion (we tried the lovely olive green) and 'boardroom-style' swivel base, it's far more adult in its appeal than many of its competitors.
What we love
Many highchairs are a riot of tacky plastic and gaudy colours, so it's truly refreshing to see a model that's so chic. The walnut laminate (which covers a birch plywood core) gives it a cool retro 1970s airport lounge vibe, which I loved – it would look brilliant in both modern and more vintage-led interiors schemes.
But it isn't just about designer looks. My 15-month-old toddler enjoyed sitting in the Zoobie Jigsaw straight away, and he really loved the way it swivelled around 360 degrees, giggling with delight as I spun him around (this might be a useful distraction if your little one does get tetchy waiting for dinner to arrive).
The plush cushioned insert (which can be hand- but not machine-washed) kept him very comfortable. The Zoobie Jigsaw generally feels sturdy, is made from quality materials, and the 5-point harness kept my son secure.
A plastic meal insert in the tray simply clips out so you can wash it up after messy mealtimes. The tray can also be taken off completely, so you can push it up against the dining table if you wish, for more sociable mealtimes.
What to watch out for
The Zoobie Jigsaw comes flatpacked with quite a few parts – seat (in two parts), arm rests, harness, base, various screws and bolts etc. Putting it together caused a few moments of confusions, so you might want a flatpack-savvy friend on hand to help if you're easily flustered. While the instructions were generally clear, one ambiguous diagram lead to the seat pad initially being fitted to the wrong side, which then meant I couldn’t fit the seat to the base. It was also tricky feeding the harness reins through the special rubber-edged slots in the seat back.
Lowering the Zoobie Jigsaw using a lever (the kind you find on upmarket barstools or office chairs) is a great idea, but you had to apply a surprising amount of pressure to do so. However, perhaps it becomes less stiff with more usage.
If your little one is on the tubby side, he might not enjoy being squeezed into the seat through the modest gap left when the tray is attached. It’s worth noting that while the tray can be total removed, it can’t be adjusted to different positions .
The Zoobie Jigsaw looks fantastic, but you do pay the price – at £250, you'll want to be sure this is the right highchair for you.
Who is the Zoobie Jigsaw highcahir best for?
Style-conscious parents after a designer-look chair that matches their decor.
It's not the cheapest highchair around, but with its walnut finish, it looks and feels super-chic, and worth the extra pennies if a stylish interior is important to you. It's comfy for your baby thanks to a nicely padded seat cushion, and the swivel action adds a novel twist.
