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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

that allowing your 12 year old to get a tattoo is wrong and irresponsible.

96 replies

almosthuman · 22/01/2015 08:26

I regularly check my DD12 social media accounts and found that one of her school friends has a tattoo on the back of their neck. It is a real tattoo and her parents were the ones that arranged for her to have this done and were very pleased with it.

I do not believe that a 12 year old has the maturity needed to understand that a tattoo is a life time commitment and not something that can easily be removed. I think that her parents are irresponsible for allowing this to happen.

I have a tattoo's so am not against them, however, I was in my early thirties when I finally decided through several years of debate and research that I would like one.

This child is now in isolation at school as she has her tattoo on display which the school is unhappy about although not against any of their policies as children don't generally get tattoo's.

I do not have an issue with children expressing themselves with haircuts, make up, clothing etc, but I do have an issue with tattoo's at such a young age.

OP posts:

Wilford · 22/01/2015 10:41

Problem is within the UK there is currently no legislation at all about who can become a tattoo artist. Other than the law prohibiting tattooing under 18's, anyone can pick up a kit and start merrily tattooing people. There are no licences for this in the UK, although I believe there has been moves to try and change this

specialsubject · 22/01/2015 10:45

in the eyes of the law tattooing any under 18 is the same as holding down a baby and tattooing it.

horrified about the lack of licensing and the small fine. But as this sounds like it is child abuse, a fine isn't going to help. I hope bigger action is taken.

Stinkle · 22/01/2015 10:53

There are licences, but they obviously only really apply to people who want to set up a proper studio (well, our council issues licences anyway) www.gov.uk/skin-piercing-and-tattooing

Trouble is, any old Tom, Dick or Harry can buy their equipment from eBay and tattoo away - which is where most of the under age young people I've looked after have got them done

Original poster

almosthuman · 22/01/2015 10:53

chipping the picture is a similar one to what the girl got it's not the same size I'd say approx 2 inches or so.

OP posts:

kaykayred · 22/01/2015 11:01

Medical reasons for a tattoo? Any medication that would have a very clear effect on how you are medicated/treated in an emergency situation.

Diabetes.

I know a number of diabetics that would never dream of getting a "picture" on themselves, but have tattoos expressly for the purpose of making it clear that they are diabetic.

If you get in an accident, then tags, necklaces, everything can fall off, or get lost or break. You pass out naked in the shower? Screwed. Get robbed of all your possessions and dumped in the street? Screwed. A tattoo in a clear place (normally on the wrist as pulse is often checked, but sometimes on the chest) is never going to get lost. It's basically a safe guard.

The blue circle was created by the international diabetes Federation, and would be recognisable by medical staff in most countries.

Epilepsy is another.

A purple ribbon is the sign for epilepsy in the US, but I don't think it's a universal sign like with the blue circle.

Plenty of people would simply have the staff of Asclepius (the walking stick with the snake wrapped around it), which is famously the traditional sign of medicine (internationally). They would then - if they were sensible - have their condition written beneath it. "Epilepsy" or whatnot. The problem with words is that they are obviously not universal. Symbols don't need to be translated.

Even if they just had a medical alert bracelet tattooed on, it tells any medical staff that they need to figure out what the problem is before giving medication or treatment.

Severe allergies to common medications is another.

Basically, there are loads of reasons why people would have tattoos for medical reasons.

Some people even use them to give their preferences for types of treatment. I have seen people get tattoos with "I wish to donate my organs" or "Please do not resuscitate".

kaykayred · 22/01/2015 11:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 22/01/2015 11:06

When a child goes into care and the parent retains PR they have a form asking what the parents are happy for them to consent to stuff like school trips doctors visits that sort of thing.

They also include piecings and tattoos

BadtzMaru · 22/01/2015 11:07

I can believe it if they were abroad, look at the teens getting tattooed on those "Ibiza gone wild" type programs when they are so drunk they can barely stand and asking for stuff like "Steve is a twat" on their arse cheek.

NamesNick · 22/01/2015 11:23

I got my tattoo when I was fifteen.

lied about age, luckily wasn't asked for ID. it was done in a tattoo studio (well known) in glasgow.

worst decision I have ever made 20 years on

Theboodythatrocked · 22/01/2015 11:39

Awful poor kid. Some parents just make you weep to he honest. Stupid twats.

crazylady12 · 22/01/2015 11:39

It is awful I got a tattoo in a propper shop when I was 14 I looked much older and they didn't ask for if my parents went mad :S luckily I still love it 10 years later

evmil · 22/01/2015 11:43

It is illegal but i know people who are not licensed who would tattoo young teenagers. DSS1(15) has a tattoo. His friends brother did it for him last summer. It wasn't done when they were drunk or anything, DSS1 asked for one and he got it. DH was

His friend who lives with us, who's the same age, also has a few tattoos. I think it is awful tbh as he is, imo, too young to make a judgment about a permeant mark on his body.

All it takes is a set of needles and some ink and they are relatively easy to come by.

pinkyredrose · 22/01/2015 12:28

evmil you should report that guy who tattooed your DSS!!

[NeedsAsockamnesty] could you elaborate on your post *When a child goes into care and the parent retains PR they have a form asking what the parents are happy for them to consent to stuff like school trips doctors visits that sort of thing.

They also include piecings and tattoos*

As tattooing under 18s is illegal but piercing isn't I'd be interested to know what the form says.

stretch · 22/01/2015 12:37

What about belly-button piercing? A few of my DDs friends have got them done over Xmas. All of them are 12 years old, with parental permission. Luckily, dd is not keen :/

DisappointedOne · 22/01/2015 12:37

My friend's daughter hangs around with a girl that recently turned 13. Her parents bought her a full thigh tattoo of a marijuana leaf for her 12th birthday () and for her 13th she got botox and 5 facial piercings. WTF?!

SunnyBaudelaire · 22/01/2015 12:38

what a load of bollocks.

FryOneFatManic · 22/01/2015 12:44

As tattooing is illegal for under 18s, I'd report anyone willing to break the law and tattoo a youngster.

My own tattoist is scathing of these law-breakers, referring to them as "scratchers".

As he pointed out, if these people are willing to break the age law, what other laws/regs are they willing to break? Hygiene? Including re-use of needles and so on.

So when 14 yr old DD came to me and said one of her friends wanted a tattoo, I gave DD all the info my tattooist had given me, and told her to feel free to pass it on. Her friends know I have a few tattoos, and as far as I know the information was received and there's been no more talk of tattoos.

NewUserrr · 22/01/2015 12:56

Women who've had reconstructive surgery after masectomy or such can have nipples tattood on, they are very realistic looking. I imagine things like eyebrows and lips can be done too if damaged in accidents or through illness.
These parents having their daughter tattooed should be reported, it's abuse.

Summerisle1 · 22/01/2015 12:57

Slight aside, but why would someone need a tattoo for medical reasons?

DH has 3 discreet little tattooed markers which were done before he started radiotherapy. Quite usual since radiotherapy for cancer treatment has to be very exactly directed.

As for the tattooed child, I fear that this is not as unusual as you'd hope. I agree with pensionerpeep's comments in this respect.

Namechangeyetagaintohide · 22/01/2015 12:58

I've known a 12 year old with a tattoo. Not in UK but in USA which I assume has similar laws. It was very

Hatespiders · 22/01/2015 13:01

When I did Prison Visiting, many of the inmates had passed the time tattooing each other. They used any old sharp instruments to do it, and any old dying/inking product they had to hand. (Biro ink for example) Many were Hep B carriers and some even HIV. The results were awful; they had 'cut here' and a line of perforations tattooed around their neck, and the ubiquitous love/hate on their fingers. They had vengeful and insulting words written anywhere eg 'Jason yor dead' (sic) was on one lad's arm. And 'fuck all screws' was another I remember. One had a primitive representation of a phallus on his cheek! They always came out to the Visit Room proud as Punch of their latest body art. I smiled weakly and managed to say "My goodness..." which they took to mean I was very impressed. (I wasn't!)

Hatespiders · 22/01/2015 13:04

That should be dyeing, not dying!

Edenviolet · 22/01/2015 13:06

DN was pierced at 12 (belly button, hips and wrist ). I had thought it was illegal but her parents had taken her there apparently and it was allowed..

Blackout234 · 22/01/2015 13:19

there are NO laws regarding piercing, except genital ones. how do you think a baby can have its ears pierced? Most places have rules and you need parental permission, Rules of the place i used to work
ears- 5 and over with parental permission
belly button- 11 and over with parental permission
tongue-13 and over with parental permission
eyebrow-12 and over with parental permission
cheek piercing- 14 and over with parental permission
nose-11 and over with parental permission
helix- 12 and over with parental permission
septum- 14 and over with parental permission
Genital and nipple piercings- over 18's only
Those are the ones I can remember so far. I've got 6 tattoos and 8 piercings but I got all of the piercings and 2 of my tattoos done before the legal age, I don't regret it but unfortunately many do

evmil · 22/01/2015 13:51

Pink DH did speak to the police about it and i think they did have a word, but there where about 5 of them and neither DSS or any of them were willing to say who had actually bloody done it. As far as i am aware, nothing happened to any of them.

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