At what age would you let your child get a tattoo?

[A4Disney]

I'm seeing more and more kids in middle schools with tattoos and the latest one I saw just appalled me -- I admit it, I'm judging. One of my daughter's 13 year old friends got this really big tattoo on her leg... a 7-line long hand written memorial to her grandfather who died 11 years ago. (says something like RIP grandpa, his dates, I will always love and miss you, etc)

I'm a pretty flexible mom. I *considered* allowing my daughter to get a small purple rose tattoo a few months back for a charity thing (for a girl undergoing multiple transplants). I ultimately decided no, but I think I was being open minded about it.

I finally decided she can get a tattoo when she's old enough to drive herself there, pay for it with her own money and sign her own release form.

What's your limit?

Hopefully never lol I detest them...But so far the two older ones agree with me and they are almost 18 and almost 14..the younger ones (10 and 7) hate them too but I know things can change...Never while living under my roof...

 

[declansdad]

Although I wasn't one who said I would cut off funding if they got a tatoo once they were legally able to on their own, IMO, it's not "cutting them off" if someone does so. My kids know that there are certain conditions to me continuing to support them financially once they are old enough to support themselves. They have to be willing to accept a lower level of independence. If I'm paying, I still have input. I'm guessing it would not be a surprise to any still dependent student if their parent felt this way about tatoos, so getting one would be a deliberate statement. Their choice, but they have to accept the consequences.

I still think it is rather harsh that as a condition of support, you have a say in a decision that has no effect on you or the child ability to succeed in the school.

 

[JennMouse32]

most people *eyes most of the rest of the thread* are too overbearing when it comes to such things.. I think it should vary child to child. some kids are more responsible than others... though i do think 13 is too young, i would say it depends on the child, how mature they are... i have wanted one for years... and my mom would have let me get one, if i wasnt scared of how much it will hurt where i want them.

as far as the 13 year old that OP was talking about... that mean he died when she was 2, seeing as i doubt she remembers much about him, and really did not have much time with him. I bet the tattoo has more to do with the parents than her.

 

[cheermom1]

I haven't read all the replies but NO I would NOT let mine get one till she is 18. I am not against them I have a few myself but I want her to make sure it is something she wants. With that said my dd dad told her that she needs to research it now til she is 18 and he would pay for it BUT it HAS to be in a spot that can be covered if she needs it to be for work or somehting.

18 and under is WAY too young, if 18 is really but once they are 18 I have no say.

 

[mamacatnv]

I still think it is rather harsh that as a condition of support, you have a say in a decision that has no effect on you or the child ability to succeed in the school.

I agree with you, that is very controlling behavior on the part of the parent towards their adult children.

 

[Art 1]

I would never allow that. When they move out as adults they can do as they wish but they know how I feel about tattoos.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

18. He'll have to pay for it himself. (However, if I'm not a big chicken, I might get one at the same time! Maybe he'll pay for mine.)

 

[ZachnElli]

I just went to a choir concert last night for my son and noticed some kids with tattoos (high school). As long as they live under my roof and I'm helping pay, no way. Like others, I'm not against them, but it is permenant. I'd get one, but I honestly think that after 2 or 3 years, I'll be sick of it, so I won't do it.

 

[hellokitty86]

Like others, I'm not against them, but it is permenant. I'd get one, but I honestly think that after 2 or 3 years, I'll be sick of it, so I won't do it.

I'm the same way.

 

[Donna]

i would never allow that. When they move out as adults they can do as they wish but they know how i feel about tattoos.

ditto!

 

[Pigeon]

I agree with you, that is very controlling behavior on the part of the parent towards their adult children.

We've made it crystal clear from day 1 that tattoos will make you instantly self-supporting. There are no surprises. If an adult child decides that getting a tattoo is more important than getting a paid-by-us college education, that's their decision. We aren't sabotaging anybody's future, they are doing it to themselves. We want the best for our kids (and that's related to the no-tattoo stance).

And we have always been entirely predictable when it comes to our rules and expectations from the time the kids were toddlers, so they know we mean what we say.

I am "against" them as far as my family goes. I think they are hideous and can be limiting. I have a formerly lovely niece who married a very nice man who owns a tattoo parlor. They are transforming themselves into people who are nearly unemployable with all the body modification.

My BIL is a dermatologist and not a day goes by when he doesn't have people coming in wanting to get tattoos removed.

 

[PatsGirl]

I made DS wait until he was 18 and asked that he takes his time and REALLY think about what/where he wanted one. I'm not super fond of it and it is far too big ~ he has a tribal falcon that stretches from one shoulder blade to the other and is about 6 inches wide He and his friends all seem to know and understand the significance but it has yet been explained to me, lol. On the upside, it is good artwork.

But...he has since had three more (in the last 18 months) and seems to be on a roll. He doesn't live at home and I don't find out about them until after the deed is done but he is conservative about the locations. I assume the USAF has some kind of regulations about where they can be. He has both his sisters' names, one on each ankle area. Why? He barely speaks to either of them and the fourth one I can't remember. He is talking about another one, shoot me now

 

[Artoo]

Oh my gosh!
I don't have kids, but I know if they were in middle school and got a tattoo, I would totally flip out. And I have SEVEN tattoos!!!
I got my first one when I was 19. I really don't think I would let my kid get one until they were 18 or 19. I would definitely want them to talk to me about it first. I would want to make sure that they knew WHAT they were getting, and also make sure that they were going to a trusted tattoo parlor, to avoid any unsafe conditions.

 

[luvmy3]

18, when my kids can pay for it themselves however I would do my best to discourage it. I have nothing against tats, wanted one when I was younger but looking back I am glad I didn't get one. Unfortunatly there is a stigma attatched to them and I do not want my child judged because they have a tattoo.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

13!?! That is ridiculous! I live in Iowa, and it is illegal to tattoo any minor, even if a parent is ok with it.

Both my husband and I have tattoos, but we would not let our daughters get them until they are 18 and out of our house. I find it incredibly sad that some parents would be ok with letting their adolescent children get a tattoo.

 

[hereyago]

What makes her a formerly lovely niece, that she has tattoos when you don't approve of them?

I really haven't seen where getting a tattoo changes someone from nice to bad. just saying.

And what if after college your kids get one? You have no control of that then.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I made DS wait until he was 18 and asked that he takes his time and REALLY think about what/where he wanted one. I'm not super fond of it and it is far too big ~ he has a tribal falcon that stretches from one shoulder blade to the other and is about 6 inches wide He and his friends all seem to know and understand the significance but it has yet been explained to me, lol. On the upside, it is good artwork.

That's why I got both of mine on my back. If I don't care for them anymore I won't have to see them and even when I get old and wrinkly I think the least of my concerns is going to be what my tattoo now looks like (unless I'm part of a nudist colony by then ).

His tattoo sounds cool! I love good tribal artwork.

 

[Rora]

No tattoos here until you're old enough to not need permission and can pay for it yourself. Even then I won't be thrilled.

I agree

And OP-I'll admit it, I'm judging the girl's tattoo. She's 13, her grandpa died 11 years ago?? That made her exactly 2 years old when she died... I don't think most 2 year olds remember stuff like that. Sounds like a good excuse to get a tattoo, IMO. Flame suit on!

 

[mamacatnv]

We've made it crystal clear from day 1 that tattoos will make you instantly self-supporting. There are no surprises. If an adult child decides that getting a tattoo is more important than getting a paid-by-us college education, that's their decision. We aren't sabotaging anybody's future, they are doing it to themselves. We want the best for our kids (and that's related to the no-tattoo stance).

And we have always been entirely predictable when it comes to our rules and expectations from the time the kids were toddlers, so they know we mean what we say.

I am "against" them as far as my family goes. I think they are hideous and can be limiting. I have a formerly lovely niece who married a very nice man who owns a tattoo parlor. They are transforming themselves into people who are nearly unemployable with all the body modification.

My BIL is a dermatologist and not a day goes by when he doesn't have people coming in wanting to get tattoos removed.

I get it your house your rules.
I personally think that threating an adult with their education over a tattoo is controlling and has nothing to do with wanting what is best for them, it is what you deem is best.
My son has enough of his own mind that there is no way I would ever think to threaten him over a tattoo, I am not sure that I would prevail and I would hate him to take out a student loan and get a tat just to spite me. Not a battle I choose to engage in, there are far bigger fish to fry.
Just my way of thinking vs. yours. I was just stating my opinion.

As for the Niece, well he does own his own business so I guess his needing employment is a moot point. To call her formerly lovely is kind of mean, but I do understand.

For the record, I don't like tats. I think they are ugly and I really really don't like them on women. I do think they present an image that is not always favorable. I also notice that the majority of people here all concede, put them where they can be hidden and they should not be vulgar.

I just would never exercise my pocketbook to the point that you have chosen to do so.

 

[imabrat]

I can't for the life of me imagine such an 'exceptional circumstance'.

Well, now you have. See below.

I know there is a teen poster on the Dis that got her tattoo young and it is a symbol of her battle against cancer or lukemia, I can't remember which. I believe that it is a small ribbon on her foot.

If either of my kids had battled against a disease that could have killed them, I am not real sure I would be telling them no to getting something they want as a their way of saying to that disease "bugger off, I beat you!!".
.

Thats Sonya (imabrat), she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and had to have her knee replaced. She's now cancer free.

Thanks Shelby!


I got my very first tattoo on my 16th birthday. 2 months after my 14th birthday, I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is an extremely rare type of bone cancer. I went through 10 months of chemotherapy, countless surgeries and operations, many blood transfusions, and a knee replacement surgery. I had to re-learn how to walk, and it took my over a year to do so. I lost all of my hair, I lost some of my friends, and I lost my childhood.

Shortly before my 16th birthday, I lost a very dear friend and longtime classmate to brain cancer. She is my hero. It was a year ago yesterday that she passed on. Along the way I also met many influential people who inspired me so much. My nurse had the same kind of cancer treated by the same doctors and was a 10 year survivor.

I knew that I was going to get a tattoo to honor my battle with the monster and to honor all of my friends who had passed away or beaten it. I now have a small gold ribbon for childhood cancer on my foot. It's about 3 inches by 1 1/2 inch and I love it. I absolutely do not regret it, and if there ever is a day I regret it I should be deeply ashamed of myself.

I feel that people should NEVER! say never. Because you know what? I NEVERNEVERNEVER thought I would get cancer. But guess what? I did! You may never think anything bad will happen, but it can and it will.

This is my tattoo:

It was taken right after it was done and at a weird angle. A few weeks ago I celebrated being 2 years cancer free, and yesterday I mourned the one-year anniversary of my dear friend and classmate. This tattoo symbolizes that they all walk with me. And I will never, ever regret it.