Co-parenting schedule template: 2-2-3, 2-2-5-5 and alternating weeks
A free 2-week co-parenting calendar to print, how the 2-2-3, 2-2-5-5 and alternating-week 50/50 schedules work, and a handoff checklist for school stuff.
Short answer
A 50/50 co-parenting schedule gives each home 7 of every 14 nights. The 2-2-3 swaps every 2 or 3 days, the 2-2-5-5 gives each parent the same weeknights plus alternating long weekends, and alternating weeks means one handoff a week. If a court order sets your schedule, follow it; this template is a planning tool, not legal advice.
Prints on US Letter. Free to copy for your family, class or PTA.
Our 2-week parenting schedule
Schedule: ______________ Starts: ______________. One row per day: the date, where the kids sleep, and the handoff time and place.
| Date | Day | Overnight with | Handoff time | Handoff place | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free printable from Mapa. Mapa handles the kids’ paperwork. You get more time with them.
Handoff checklist
Keep a copy in each home, or in the kids’ bag.
School
Health
Activities
The kids’ things
Free printable from Mapa. Mapa handles the kids’ paperwork. You get more time with them.
How to use it
- Start from the schedule in your parenting plan or court order, if you have one.
- Write the dates in the first column, starting on the day your rotation begins.
- Fill in who has each overnight, plus the handoff time and place.
- Before each handoff, run down the checklist: forms, medicines, gear.
- Write changes in Notes, and confirm them with the other parent in writing.
The 2-2-3 schedule
The kids spend 2 nights with one parent, 2 with the other, then 3 with the first. The next week it flips, so each parent gets every other weekend. Handoffs are frequent, so it suits parents who live close together.
| 2-2-3 | 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 |
The 2-2-5-5 schedule
One parent always has Monday and Tuesday nights, the other always has Wednesday and Thursday, and the weekends alternate inside a 5-night stretch. The weeknights stay the same, which makes activities and school nights easier to plan.
| 2-2-5-5 | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | B | B | A | A | A |
| Week 2 | A | A | B | B | B | B | B |
Alternating weeks (7-7)
One week with each parent and one handoff day, such as Friday after school. It’s the simplest to follow and has the longest stretch apart, which some experts see as hard for younger children. A mediator or your child’s pediatrician can talk through what fits your child’s age.
| 7-7 | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A |
| Week 2 | B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
A filled-in example
Mon, Oct 5 · Overnight: Alex’s · Handoff: Jamie drops off at school, Alex picks up at 3:15 PM Wed, Oct 7 · Overnight: Jamie’s · Handoff: school pickup, 3:15 PM · Notes: field trip slip signed, in the blue folder Fri, Oct 9 · Overnight: Alex’s · Handoff: school pickup, 3:15 PM · Notes: cleats and inhaler in the bag
Tips
- Hand off at school when you can: one parent drops off, the other picks up.
- Keep one list of school dates both homes can see, so early release days and conferences reach both calendars.
- Plans change as kids grow. California’s courts describe a good plan as one that meets the child’s needs and fits their age.
Questions parents ask
What is a 2-2-3 custody schedule?
A 50/50 schedule where the kids spend 2 nights with one parent, 2 with the other, then 3 with the first, and the pattern flips the next week. Each parent gets every other weekend.
What’s the difference between a 2-2-3 and a 2-2-5-5 schedule?
Both give each home 7 of every 14 nights. In a 2-2-5-5 each parent keeps the same weeknights every week, while in a 2-2-3 the weeknights switch from one week to the next.
Which 50/50 schedule works best for young kids?
There’s no single answer: it depends on the child’s age, the distance between homes and how the parents coordinate. Schedules with shorter stretches apart, like the 2-2-3, are often suggested for younger children, and a mediator can help you weigh them.
Can we change a court-ordered parenting schedule?
Follow the order as written until a court changes it. A family law attorney or your court’s self-help center can explain how changes work where you live.
What should go back and forth at a handoff?
School forms and homework, medicines with written doses, and gear for the week’s activities. A printed checklist in the kids’ bag helps both homes pack the same things.