Custody schedules
The 2-2-3 custody schedule, explained
2-2-3 splits the fortnight into short blocks: two nights, two nights, then three nights, flipping the following week. Each parent ends up with seven nights out of fourteen and every other full weekend, and no child is ever away from either parent for more than three nights.
The two-week rota
A and B are the two parents. The cycle repeats every fortnight, so it always lands on the same days of the week.
| Night | Week 1 | Week 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Parent A | Parent B |
| Tuesday | Parent A | Parent B |
| Wednesday | Parent B | Parent A |
| Thursday | Parent B | Parent A |
| Friday | Parent A | Parent B |
| Saturday | Parent A | Parent B |
| Sunday | Parent A | Parent B |
Handovers fall on Wednesday, Friday and Monday. Most families do them at school or nursery so the child moves between homes without a doorstep conversation.
Where it works well
- Equal time: seven nights each over a two-week cycle
- No long gaps — useful for pre-school and primary-age children
- Alternating full weekends for both households
- Easy to describe and easy to keep to, once it is written down
Where it struggles
- Three or four handovers a week, so travel adds up
- Both homes need the everyday basics, not just a weekend bag
- More adult contact points, which is harder if communication is strained
- Older children may prefer the settled feel of longer blocks
Making 2-2-3 practical
- Fix the handover times — the same three moments every fortnight, ideally tied to school or nursery.
- Duplicate the everyday kit — uniform, toothbrush, chargers and PE kit in both homes cuts most of the friction.
- Put the rota in one calendar — with this many changeovers, a shared calendar both households can see prevents missed pickups.
- Agree how swaps happen — a short proposal that the other parent accepts, declines or reschedules beats a long message thread.
Common questions
What is a 2-2-3 custody schedule?
The children spend two nights with parent A, two nights with parent B, then three nights back with parent A. The next fortnight the pattern flips, so over two weeks each parent has exactly seven nights. It is an equal, 50/50 arrangement with frequent changeovers.
Who does 2-2-3 suit best?
Younger children who find long gaps away from either parent difficult, and co-parents who live close together and can manage handovers two or three times a week. It works best where both homes are within the same school run.
What are the downsides of 2-2-3?
There are far more handovers than a week-on/week-off pattern, which means more travel, more chances for kit to be left behind, and more contact between the adults. School-age children with heavy homework or club commitments sometimes prefer longer blocks.
How do the weekends work in 2-2-3?
Because the three-night block alternates, each parent gets every other full weekend. That is one reason families choose it: nobody ends up with only weekdays.
This page describes how families commonly organise a 2-2-3 rotation. It is general scheduling guidance, not legal advice — if you have a court order or are unsure about your arrangement, speak to a family law professional.
Set your 2-2-3 pattern up once
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