2-2-3 Custody Schedule: How It Works, Pros and Cons
A 50/50 rotation where the children spend 2 days with one parent, 2 with the other, then 3 with the first, and the order flips every week.
Two-week calendar
How the 2-2-3 schedule works
Week one: Parent A has Monday and Tuesday, Parent B has Wednesday and Thursday, and Parent A has Friday through Sunday. Week two is the mirror image, so each parent gets every other weekend.
Over two weeks each parent has the children for seven nights. Nobody goes more than three days without seeing them, which is why the schedule is popular for younger children.
Pros
- Short gaps: the children see each parent at least every three days.
- Even split of time, weekends included.
- Works well for babies, toddlers and young school-age children who miss a parent quickly.
Cons
- Lots of handovers: about three a week, so it helps if the homes are close together.
- Weekdays change from week to week, which can make activities and routines harder to plan.
- Needs parents who can communicate reliably, because the moving pieces add up.
Who it suits
Young children, parents who live near each other, and families who want equal time without long stretches apart.
Run this schedule in MiddleWise
Choose the 2-2-3 schedule when you set up your family and MiddleWise fills in the calendar for both homes, with handover times and locations. Swap and holiday requests are a written yes or no, and approved changes update the calendar automatically. Handover reminders arrive the evening before, with anything still left on the packing list.
Common questions
Is a 2-2-3 schedule 50/50?
Yes. Across each two-week cycle both parents have seven overnights.
What age is a 2-2-3 schedule best for?
It is most often used for children under about eight, because the gaps between parents stay short. Many families move to 2-2-5-5 or week on, week off as the children get older.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Your parenting plan or court order decides your actual schedule.