Understanding the 3-3 Custody Schedule
The 3-3 custody schedule (often called the "Every 3 Days" rotation) is a 50/50 parenting plan that focuses on short, consistent blocks of time. It ensures that neither parent is away from the child for more than three days, making it ideal for families who prioritize frequent contact over weekly stability.
1. Overview
The 3-3 Schedule works on a repeating 6-day cycle, rather than the traditional 7-day or 14-day week.
- 3 Days with Parent A
- 3 Days with Parent B
- Repeat indefinitely.
Because the cycle is 6 days long but the week is 7 days long, the schedule rotates constantly. You will not have "fixed" days. One week you might have Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday; the next week you might have Sunday/Monday/Tuesday.
This schedule is often chosen when parents live close to one another and want to avoid the longer 5-day or 7-day separations found in other plans.
2. How the 3-3 Schedule Works
The pattern is simple: three days on, three days off.
Example Cycle:
- Days 1-3: Parent A
- Days 4-6: Parent B
- Days 7-9: Parent A
- Days 10-12: Parent B
This rapid rotation ensures that the child is constantly reconnecting with both parents. It eliminates the "weekend parent" dynamic entirely, as weekends are split or rotated naturally as the cycle progresses.
3. Visual Example
Because the cycle (6 days) doesn't match the week (7 days), the schedule looks different every week. Notice how Parent A's days "shift" backward by one day each week.
3 Days
3 Days
Start 3...
...End 3
3 Days
Days 1-2
4. Weekly Rotation Breakdown
The defining feature of the 3-3 schedule is fluidity.
- No Fixed Days: You cannot say "I always have Tuesdays." You must rely on a calendar.
- Equal Weekends: Over time, weekends are shared exactly 50/50, but they are often split. One parent might have Friday/Saturday, and the other gets Sunday.
5. Advantages
Frequent Contact
This is the biggest benefit. A child never goes more than 3 days without seeing a parent. This is crucial for young children (ages 2-5) who struggle with object permanence and separation anxiety.
Fairness
Since days rotate, no parent gets "stuck" with the busy weekdays or gets all the fun weekends. Both parents experience every type of day—school runs, Saturday mornings, and Sunday nights.
Simple Rhythm
"Three days here, three days there" is an easy pattern for a child to internalize, even if they don't know the days of the week yet.
Less "Luggage Life"
Compared to a 2-2-3 schedule (which has 3 exchanges a week), the 3-3 schedule averages slightly fewer exchanges over time, providing a bit more settling-in time.
6. Disadvantages
Hard to Schedule
Because the days change every week, it is very difficult to sign up for weekly activities like soccer practice or swimming lessons unless both parents agree to take the child during their time.
Confusing for School
Teachers and bus drivers prefer consistency (e.g., "Dad always picks up on Fridays"). With a 3-3 schedule, you have to provide the school with a printed monthly calendar so they know where the child is going.
No Full Weekends
You rarely get a full Friday-Sunday weekend. Usually, the exchange happens on a Saturday or Sunday, chopping the weekend in half. This makes weekend trips nearly impossible.
Constant Transitions
While fewer than a 2-2-3, moving every 3 days is still a lot of movement. For older children who have more "stuff" (sports gear, laptops), this can be exhausting.
7. Best Situations for This Schedule
The 3-3 schedule is a specialized plan best suited for:
- Toddlers and Preschoolers: The frequent contact helps bond with both parents, and they don't have school schedules to complicate the rotation.
- Parents Who Live Very Close: Since exchanges happen constantly, you ideally want to be neighbors or live within 5-10 minutes of each other.
- Flexible Work Schedules: If you don't work a standard Monday-Friday 9-5, the rotating nature of this schedule might fit a freelance or shift-based lifestyle better.
8. When It May Not Work Well
- School-Aged Children: Once homework and weekly activities start, the lack of fixed days becomes a logistical nightmare.
- High-Conflict Parents: The schedule requires constant communication about where the child is and who is picking them up. If you can't talk civilly, this will fail.
- Parents Who Travel: The rigid 3-day blocks don't allow for much flexibility if a parent needs to travel for work for a week.
9. Common Questions Parents Ask
What time should the exchange happen?
Many families choose a consistent time like 6:00 PM or after school/daycare. Using school as the exchange point is harder because the exchange day falls on weekends half the time.
Can we make it 3-3-4?
If you change the pattern to 3-3-4-4, you are essentially doing a 2-week rotation (which we cover in another guide). The pure 3-3 is strictly 3 days on, 3 days off.
Is this better than 2-2-3?
The 2-2-3 schedule provides fixed weekdays (e.g., Mom always has Mon/Tue), which is better for school planning. The 3-3 provides fairer distribution of all days but sacrifices predictability. Choose 2-2-3 for school kids and 3-3 for toddlers.
The content provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, professional diagnosis, or a binding parenting agreement. Custody laws vary significantly by state and country. Before finalizing any parenting plan, you should consult with a qualified family law attorney or a court-certified mediator to ensure your schedule complies with local regulations and serves the best interests of your child.