The 2-2-3 Custody Schedule
The 2-2-3 schedule is a true 50/50 rotation: two days with one parent, two days with the other, then a three-day weekend that alternates. Children are never away from either parent for more than three days, which is why it's a favorite for younger kids.
How the 2-2-3 rotation works
In week one, the children spend Monday and Tuesday with Parent 1, Wednesday and Thursday with Parent 2, and the Friday-through-Sunday weekend back with Parent 1. In week two the roles flip. Over any two-week cycle each parent has exactly 7 overnights — a genuine 50/50 split.
The trade-off is exchanges: roughly three per week (about 12 across the 4-week calendar above). That's very manageable when parents live close and communicate well, and exhausting when they don't.
Who the 2-2-3 works best for
- Toddlers and young children who struggle with long separations from either parent.
- Parents who live near each other — frequent exchanges mean school and activity logistics matter.
- Co-parents who communicate well, since belongings, homework, and schedules cross households constantly.
As children reach later elementary years, many families transition to a 2-2-5-5 or 3-4-4-3 rotation, which keep the 50/50 split with fewer exchanges.
Common Questions
Is 2-2-3 really 50/50?
Yes — because the weekend alternates, each parent has exactly seven overnights in every two-week cycle. Some published calendars repeat the same week without alternating, which silently produces a 57/43 split; the calendar above alternates correctly.
How many exchanges does 2-2-3 involve?
About three per week. If that feels like too many, the 2-2-5-5 and 3-4-4-3 schedules keep a 50/50 split with roughly half the transitions.
Does 2-2-3 work with school?
Yes, but both parents share school-day responsibilities — drop-offs, homework, and forgotten-gym-shoes runs alternate mid-week. Courts will look at whether both homes are within a reasonable distance of school.
More custody schedules
Compare this arrangement with the other common California parenting schedules, or open the full custody schedule calculator:
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