The 2-2-5-5 Custody Schedule
A 50/50 schedule where each parent always has the same two weekdays, and the weekend rotates. It gives children predictable 'anchor' days while keeping time equal.
50% / 50%
overnights split
4
exchanges / cycle
14
day cycle
How the 2-2-5-5 schedule works
Over a 14-day cycle: Parent A has 2 days, Parent B has 2 days, then Parent A has 5 days, and Parent B has 5 days. In practice one parent always has Monday–Tuesday, the other always has Wednesday–Thursday, and Friday–Sunday alternates each week.
Advantages
- Each parent has fixed, predictable weekdays
- Children never go more than 5 nights without a parent
- Equal time without the length of a full week apart
- Easy to plan recurring activities on 'anchor' days
Things to consider
- More exchanges than alternating weeks
- The 5-day stretch can still feel long for toddlers
- Both parents must be available on their fixed weekdays
By age
A strong middle-ground for school-aged children — more contact than alternating weeks, fewer moves than 2-2-3.
School considerations
Excellent: the fixed weekday anchors make school drop-offs and recurring activities predictable for everyone.
Holidays
Works cleanly with an odd/even holiday overlay; the rotating weekend keeps special weekends fair.
Compare with other schedules
Frequently asked questions
What does 2-2-5-5 mean?
It's a 14-day cycle of 2 days, 2 days, 5 days, 5 days. One parent always has the first two weekdays, the other the next two, and the 5-day blocks include the alternating weekend.
How many overnights is 2-2-5-5?
Exactly 50/50 — seven of every fourteen nights with each parent.
Is 2-2-5-5 good for young children?
It's better than alternating weeks for younger kids because the longest stretch is five nights, but toddlers may still do best on 2-2-3.
Related schedules
Put this schedule to work — free.
Save it to a shared calendar, track expenses, and invite your co-parent so you're both in sync.