The most common custody schedules are 50/50 arrangements like week-on/week-off, 2-2-3, and 5-2-2-5, plus alternating-weekend patterns where the child lives mainly with one parent. The right one depends less on fairness to the parents and more on your child's age, the distance between homes, and how well handovers go. Here are the main examples, with deeper guides for each.
50/50 custody schedules
Week-on/week-off
The child spends one full week in each home. Simple, predictable, and the fewest handovers, but a week can feel long for younger children. Full guide: the week-on/week-off schedule.
2-2-3
Two days with one parent, two with the other, then three, alternating each week. Both parents see the child several times a week, which suits younger children who need more frequent contact. Full guide: the 2-2-3 schedule.
5-2-2-5
A fixed weekly rhythm: the child is always with Parent A on the same two weekdays, Parent B on the same two, and weekends alternate. Predictable days, still 50/50. Full guide: the 5-2-2-5 schedule.
Choosing by your child's age
Babies, toddlers, and school-age children need different rhythms. A schedule that works for a ten-year-old can be too much separation for a toddler. See:
If you're not sure where to start, how to choose a custody schedule walks through the trade-offs, and when to switch schedules covers changing the pattern as your child grows.
Make the schedule work in practice
A schedule only helps if both homes see the same one. dip's free shared calendar shows both parents the same week, with handovers and changes visible to both, no more arguing about who has the children when. You can lock the pattern into your parenting plan too.
Browse the full schedules and rotations library for every pattern, or the whole knowledge library for separated families. dip is free for both parents, with no ads and no data sale.