Co-parenting & custody schedule types explained
When you're separating, one of the first practical questions is: who has the kids, and when? There's no single "right" answer — the best schedule depends on your kids' ages, how far apart you live, work patterns and how well you and your co-parent communicate. This guide walks through the most common arrangements used by Australian families, in plain English, so you can find one that fits.
In the diagrams below, each square is one day. Teal days are with Parent A; amber days are with Parent B. Most families start from one of these and adjust over time — that's normal.
The most common schedules
Week-about (7/7)
The kids spend a full week with one parent, then a full week with the other, usually with the handover on the same day each week (often a Friday after school). It's the simplest 50/50 split — easy to remember and only one changeover a week.
Suits: school-aged kids, parents who live reasonably close, and co-parents who want minimal back-and-forth. A week can feel long for very young children.
2-2-3
A two-week, 50/50 pattern: 2 days with one parent, 2 with the other, then 3 days back with the first — and it flips the following week so weekends alternate. Kids never go too long without seeing either parent.
Suits: younger children who do better with frequent contact, and co-parents who live close and can manage more frequent handovers. Read the full 2-2-3 guide →
2-2-5-5
Each parent always has the same two weekdays (so Parent A might always have Monday–Tuesday, Parent B always Wednesday–Thursday), and the weekends alternate, creating 5-day stretches. The fixed weekdays make the routine very predictable.
Suits: families who value a consistent weekly rhythm — same days every week makes activities, childcare and work planning easier.
Alternating weekends
One parent has the children during the week, and the other has them every second weekend (sometimes with a weeknight dinner added). This is a more uneven split — often a starting point where one parent has been the primary carer.
Suits: longer distances, very different work patterns, or as a stepping stone toward a more even arrangement over time.
How do I choose?
A few questions that usually point you to the right pattern:
- How old are the kids? Younger children generally cope better with shorter gaps (2-2-3); older kids often prefer fewer changeovers (week-about).
- How far apart do you live? Frequent handovers only work if you're close, especially around school.
- How predictable are your work weeks? Fixed-day patterns like 2-2-5-5 are easier to plan around shift work or set commitments.
- How's communication? Lower-conflict co-parents can handle more frequent handovers; if every changeover is stressful, fewer is better.
You don't have to get it perfect on day one. Most families adjust as kids grow and circumstances change — the important thing is that you both know the plan and can see it in one place.
Turn your schedule into a shared calendar
Pick any of these patterns in SplitTime, invite your co-parent, and you'll both see the same colour-coded calendar — handovers, swaps and school holidays included. Free to try.