Special Tomato Soft-Touch Sitter Review
The Special Tomato Soft-Touch Sitter is one of the most versatile pieces of adaptive equipment we own. I did not know that for a long time. I am writing this so you do not have to figure it out the same way I did.
We have had it since my daughter was 7. She is 15 now and in a Size 4 Sitter. When we first got the Size 1, covered through Medicaid, it came with the mobile base . I was shown the base and that was the end of the conversation.
I had no idea it could go anywhere else.
You can use the Special Tomato Soft-Touch sitter chair without the base
The insert works on any stable seat surface. The mobile base is just one option. So is a dining chair, an armchair, an adaptive swing seat at the park, a stroller wagon, a beach wheelchair frame, etc.
The 2 attachment straps that come standard with the Sitter are what make this possible. If you are using your Sitter only on the base, you are using about 50% of what it can do.
Where we use it
At home it goes on a low wicker chair. We use that specific chair because of her sensory seeking. She can tip taller chairs when she is rocking back and forth for input, and the low frame makes it nearly impossible for her move the chair.
We use that combination of the chair and sitter in the kitchen so she can be near us while we prepare food. We use it at the dining table, since we have yet to find a high chair she can use safely, and we use it anywhere in the house we are so she is involved and close by.
It goes inside the Wonderfold wagon. She is too big for even their bigger seat option, so this allows her to sit supported and strapped in. If you are already using a Wonderfold and your child needs trunk support, you could try this before spending money on a medical stroller.
It goes in the front or middle seat of the parked car during her siblings sports games or pick up basketball games. Sitting fully harnessed in the car seat for 2 hours is not as comfortable for her. The Soft-Touch Sitter in the front or middle seat while we wait out the game, is.
While this is a great seating option while parked, this is not a car seat and cannot be used while the vehicle is in motion. When we are ready to leave, we just unclip the soft-touch sitter and place it in the trunk.
We recently used it on a beach wheelchair frame at Mustang Island. I placed the sitter insert into the beach wheelchair from the park and she was able to ride in the chair along the water.
All of these setup options did not occur to me before I understood what the attachment straps were actually for.
Special Tomato Chair Sizes and What It Costs
The Special Tomato Soft-Touch Sitter comes in sizes 1 through 5. She was in a Size 1 at 7 years old. She is in a Size 4 now at 15. The way I figured out sizing when I bought the Size 4 out of pocket was by measuring the chair I already had.
I put a tape measure on the Size 1 insert — seat depth, seat width, seat back height — and matched those numbers to the chart on the Special Tomato website. Once I understood which measurement on the chart corresponded to which part of the physical insert, I could look at the Size 4 numbers and know exactly how much more space she would have.
For my daughter, measurements the Size 4 was enough. I did not need the Size 5. If you are between sizes and close enough to the upper size, I would suggest to do that. At the price they are, I’d rather have room to grow into it than outgrow it.
I paid $690 through Adaptive Mall during a sale. Full retail runs around $1,000. Adaptive Mall runs sales more consistently than anywhere else I have found. If you have Medicaid or private insurance, ask your DME supplier or therapist to request it as adaptive seating equipment as it may be covered.
Base sizing
Tip: If your child is in a Size 1, 2, or 3 and you already have the standard base, you do not need a new base when you size up within that range. The base stays the same size and only the sitter changes. The large base only becomes necessary at Size 4.
|
Size 1 Regular Price $673.69 |
Target Weight 20-30 lbs |
Target Height 30-35 Inches |
Target Age 1-2 Years |
Inside Seat Depth 7 Inches |
Seat Back Height 21 Inches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Size 2 Regular Price $886.44 |
Target Weight 30-60 lbs |
Target Height 35-48 Inches |
Target Age 2-6 Years |
Inside Seat Depth 9.5 Inches |
Seat Back Height 26 Inches |
|
Size 3 Regular Price $1,127.59 |
Target Weight 40-80 lbs |
Target Height 40-56 Inches |
Target Age 6-9 Years |
Inside Seat Depth 11.5 Inches |
Seat Back Height 29 Inches |
|
Size 4 Regular Price $1,514.00 |
Target Weight 50-110 lbs |
Target Height 50-65 Inches |
Target Age 9-14 Years |
Inside Seat Depth 13.5 Inches |
Seat Back Height 35 Inches |
|
Size 5 Regular Price $1,900.39 |
Target Weight 90-200 lbs |
Target Height 54-74 Inches |
Target Age 13-Adult |
Inside Seat Depth 16 Inches |
Seat Back Height 39 Inches |
Adaptive Mall has been one of the only sites that runs sales on the sitter chair as far as I have found. Typically retail for the size 4 is over $1500. This is what other sites have it listed as. However, I only paid $694 on Adaptive Malls site.
They also sent me a 10% off code after signing up for their newsletter. That is worth it, if you’re looking for any other discounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I figure out which Special Tomato chair size fits my child?
If you already own a Special Tomato Soft-Touch Sitter, measure the seat depth, seat width, seat back height, and match those numbers to the size chart on specialtomato.com.
If you do not own one yet, take your child’s measurements and use the chart as a starting point. When in doubt use the sizing help form on their site or call (800) 371-2778.
Does insurance cover the Special Tomato Sitter?
It can. We had it covered through Medicaid when my daughter was 7. Coverage depends on your plan, your state, and how it gets coded.
Ask your DME supplier or therapist to request it as adaptive seating equipment. A letter of medical necessity from your child’s doctor helps. When we lost Medicaid I paid $690 through Adaptive Mall on sale. Full retail runs around $1,000.
Do you need to buy a base to use it?
No. The attachment straps are what make the insert usable anywhere. The base is one option, but not a requirement
Can it be used as a car seat?
No. It is not crash-tested for vehicle use. If you need adaptive car seating, that is a separate product category than the Special Tomato Soft-Touch Sitter and a separate conversation with your DME provider.