2-2-3 Custody Schedule
In a 2-2-3 schedule the kids spend two nights with one parent, two nights with the other, then a three-night weekend back with the first. The next week the order flips, so each parent has every other weekend and the nights split exactly in half over two weeks.
What two weeks look like
How it works
- Week one: Parent A has Monday and Tuesday nights, Parent B has Wednesday and Thursday, and Parent A has Friday through Sunday.
- Week two: the same shape with the parents swapped — Parent B has Monday and Tuesday, Parent A Wednesday and Thursday, and Parent B the weekend.
- The pattern then repeats. Neither parent goes more than three nights without the kids.
Who it tends to suit
- Babies, toddlers and preschoolers, who do better with short gaps between homes.
- Parents who live close to each other and to school or daycare.
- Co-parents who can handle three handoffs a week calmly — or who use school and daycare drop-offs so they rarely meet.
What to plan for
- The weekdays change every week, which makes after-school activities and work shifts harder to plan without a shared calendar.
- Frequent handoffs mean more packing and more chances for friction.
- Long distances between the homes make the short stretches tiring.
Tips from families who use it
- Hand over at school or daycare: one parent drops off in the morning, the other picks up in the afternoon.
- Keep duplicates of the basics (toothbrush, pajamas, chargers) so only homework and special items travel.
- Put the calendar where both parents and older kids can see it, because the weekday pattern alternates.
- Many families move to 2-2-5-5 or 3-4-4-3 as the kids get older and want longer stretches.
Pick the 2-2-3 schedule, check the next two weeks against real dates, and invite your co-parent with a code. You both see the same calendar, holidays alternate by year on their own, and swaps take effect only when the other home says yes. Free for both of you.
Other schedules
- 2-2-5-5 Custody Schedule
- 3-4-4-3 Custody Schedule Explained
- Week On, Week Off Custody Schedule (Alternating Weeks)
- Every Other Weekend Custody Schedule
- 5-2 Custody Schedule
How holidays are split · Parenting time calculator
This guide explains a common arrangement; it is not legal advice. Your parenting plan or court order decides your schedule — talk to a family lawyer or mediator about your situation.