There is a great link from adaptive mall that tells you the difference between the 2 seats HERE.
I like that the Special Tomato has a 5 year warranty. The harness is honestly what sold me. Our issue with the tumble form was the straps cutting into my son's neck and him leaning to the left no matter how tight I made it. There is slightly more side support in the special tomato seat, but he still leans but not as bad. I LOVE the harness. It does not cut into his neck anymore. He does not hang to the side and with the new crotch strap he can not arch and make himself slip down in the seat. I have found him on several occasions in the tumble form seat where 1. someone did not put the lap belt on at all or 2. It was not tight enough and he had manage to slouch out of the seat to the point that the clip that goes on his chest was under his neck. Also from the arching the straps were leaving a constant bruise or rub marks on his hip bones from the pressure of his arching or the tightening of the straps. He had bruises were the buckle was as well.
I spent $440 out of pocket for the chair I bought my son...$100 more for wheels on the base, which is crazy..There is 2 vertical screw holes on the base and you have to add the wheels yourself when it arrives in the mail...probably could find some at the hardware store cheaper.
Tumble Form 2 Floor Sitter |
Special Tomato Soft Touch Sitter |
The holes in the seat are in the same spots minus the special tomato having a 5th hole at the bottom for the crotch piece by the leg abductor making it 5 point. Hmm outside of my love for the wheels on the new base, I probably would have been just as happy ordering the harness for $29.99 from adaptive mall for the special tomato and putting it on the Tumble Form. I do believe it will work perfect! The only difference is you would have to take of the crotch strap piece off which is removable. I like that the belt is thinner personally and that the harness is padded. Seems like we get a more secure fit. The Special Tomato chair also has 2 extra straps attached that you can attach to a chair like a booster seat at a table..this is nice, but I honestly was able to do the same thing with the tumble form. I just unhooked the back strap and weaved it though the back of the chair before I tightened it down.
Thanks for sharing this! Jacob sounds like a very sweet boy. If you are interested in sharing your advice with other families affected by cerebral palsy or getting their input, check out the community at Cerebral Palsy Family Network. It's a great organization that shares CP stories from all walks of life.
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