The 2-2-3 Custody Schedule

In short

The days come in blocks of 2, 2, and 3, and the order flips every week, so each parent has the children for no more than 3 days in a row. Over two weeks, each parent has exactly half the overnights (7 of 14).

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Parent A

Parent B

Week 1 (top) · Week 2 (bottom)

How it works

Week 1: Parent A takes Monday and Tuesday, Parent B takes Wednesday and Thursday, Parent A takes Friday through Sunday. Week 2 flips: Parent B takes Monday and Tuesday, Parent A takes Wednesday and Thursday, Parent B takes the three-day weekend. Over a two-week cycle each parent gets seven overnights.

A two-week example

A = Parent A, B = Parent B. The pattern then repeats.
	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Week 1	A	A	B	B	A	A	A
Week 2	B	B	A	A	B	B	B

In week 1, Parent A has Monday and Tuesday plus the weekend. In week 2 the same days go to Parent B. Because the weeks mirror each other, each parent has one weekend in every two.

By the numbers

Cycle: 2 weeks, then it repeats.
Time with each parent: Parent A 7 of 14 days, Parent B 7 of 14 days (50/50).
Exchanges: 6 every two weeks (3 per week on average).
Longest stretch: Parent A 3 days in a row, Parent B 3 days in a row.

What makes it work

Living close together. With 3 exchanges a week, a short drive between homes, ideally with the same school, keeps the schedule workable.
Exchanges at school or daycare. Drop-off and pickup handle most hand-offs, so the children aren't moved from one parent's door to the other's several times a week.
A shared way to keep track. Because the weekdays shift from week to week, both parents and the children need a calendar they can check, not just memory.

Pros and cons

Pros

Neither parent is away from the children for more than three days
Even 50/50 split over a two-week cycle
Predictable once learned: the same two-week pattern repeats all year

Cons

Frequent exchanges: 3 per week, 6 every two weeks
Lots of back-and-forth, which some children find unsettling
Requires cooperative co-parents living close to each other

Best for

Younger and school-age children whose parents live close together, ideally in the same school district, and can exchange at or near school or daycare.

By age

General guidance only. Every child is different, and what fits can change as they grow.

Under 3: Often a reasonable fit. Child-development guidance generally favors short, frequent time with each parent at this age, and 2-2-3 never goes more than 3 days without each parent.
3 to 5: A common choice. Keep the hand-off routine the same each time, and pack a comfort item that travels between homes.
6 to 12: Works if the homes are close to school. Some children this age start to find the frequent moves tiring and do better with longer blocks.
Teens: Can feel like too much moving. Many families move to 2-2-5-5 or week on, week off as children get older.

Exchanges, holidays, and summer

Exchange times: Most hand-offs fall on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at school drop-off or after-school pickup. Agree on a time and place for days without school.
Holidays: Most plans lay a holiday schedule over the regular rotation, with major holidays alternating by year. The holiday plan wins when they conflict, and the regular schedule picks back up after.
Summer: Some families keep 2-2-3 all year; others switch to longer blocks, such as week on, week off, so each parent can travel.

Common variations

2-2-5-5: Fixes the weekdays and gives each parent one 5-day stretch, with fewer exchanges.
3-4-4-3: Longer blocks of 3 and 4 days, with 2 exchanges a week instead of 3.
Adding a midweek call: A short video call on the off days helps younger children who miss the other parent.

Common pitfalls

The shifting weekdays confuse people. Children, teachers, and coaches may not know which home is which day. Share the calendar with anyone who needs it.
Belongings get split across homes. With 3 moves a week, keep duplicates of everyday items and a short checklist for what travels.
Late or missed exchanges add up. Small delays happen 3 times a week. Agree up front on a grace period and how to tell each other about changes.

Frequently asked questions

Is 2-2-3 a 50/50 schedule?

Yes. Over each two-week cycle, each parent has 7 of the 14 overnights.

How many exchanges are there?

Three per week, six every two weeks. Many can happen at school drop-off or pickup.

Is 2-2-3 good for toddlers?

It is often used for young children, because neither parent is away for more than 3 days. What works still depends on the child and how the hand-offs go.

What's the difference between 2-2-3 and 2-2-5-5?

2-2-3 swaps every two or three days and the weekdays shift from week to week. 2-2-5-5 keeps the same weekdays every week and allows one longer 5-day stretch.

Put it on your calendar

In CoreParent, pick 2-2-3 in your parenting plan, choose who starts, and your calendar fills in who has the kids for the next 90 days. Share it with your co-parent, or keep it to yourself.