Practical information, not legal advice. Every family’s circumstances are different; no schedule or organisational approach suits everyone.

How the 2-2-3 rotation works

Using Monday as the start of this example, Home A has Monday and Tuesday nights. Home B has Wednesday and Thursday nights. Home A then has Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. In week two, the households reverse: B has Monday and Tuesday, A has Wednesday and Thursday, and B has the weekend.

The pattern repeats after two weeks. Each household has seven overnights across that cycle, but the weekdays allocated to each household change from one week to the next.

Example: a two-week 2-2-3 rotation
Week Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Week 1 Home A Home A Home B Home B Home A Home A Home A
Week 2 Home B Home B Home A Home A Home B Home B Home B

Home A and Home B are labels for the two households. Each cell represents an overnight in this example; agree actual changeover times separately.

Turn the overnight pattern into a practical plan

This calendar shows nights, not an exact pickup timetable. Agree when each block starts: after school, at daycare pickup or at another specified time. A Monday start here is illustrative; your dates and handover arrangements may be different.

Look beyond a single week when checking activities or work commitments. A Tuesday activity falls in different households in alternate weeks, so both homes need the details and transport plan.

Practical considerations

  • Frequent transitions: the two-night blocks involve more routine changeovers than an alternating-week pattern.
  • School and work: weekday responsibilities rotate, which matters for recurring commitments.
  • Belongings: plan for school bags, activity equipment and clothing without relying on last-minute messages.
  • Travel: consider the distance between homes and the timing of each changeover.

Shorter blocks are not automatically better for every child. Consider your family’s circumstances and existing arrangements rather than treating the pattern as a recommendation.

What happens in holidays?

If a holiday arrangement overrides the usual rotation, write down when the exception starts and ends, and which household begins the regular pattern afterwards. Keep the original cycle and any confirmed changes distinguishable in the calendar.

Keep both weeks visible

Compare this with 2-2-5-5 with fixed weekdays, or start with our schedule examples. The schedule planning checklist helps you work through the details.

SplitParent’s parenting schedules keep the dates organised alongside the appointments and activities in your shared calendar.