How the 2-2-5-5 custody schedule works
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | B | B | A | A | A |
| Week 2 | A | A | B | B | B | B | B |
Parent A always has Monday and Tuesday, Parent B always has Wednesday and Thursday. The weekend (Friday to Sunday) goes to A in week 1 and to B in week 2. That makes a 5-day stretch with A (Friday to Tuesday) and a 5-day stretch with B (Wednesday to Sunday) every two weeks.
Pros and cons
- Same weekdays every week. Easy to plan school runs and after-school activities around.
- Fewer exchanges than 2-2-3. Four every two weeks instead of six.
- Five days away is long for small children. Many families with toddlers start with 2-2-3 and move to 2-2-5-5 later.
- Needs parents who live near the school. Each parent handles school drop-off on their days.
Holidays on a 2-2-5-5 schedule
Holidays and school breaks usually override the regular schedule. Set them up on the holiday custody schedule page and they appear on this calendar automatically. To compare 2-2-5-5 with other patterns, switch the schedule on the custody calendar.
Questions
Is 2-2-5-5 a 50/50 schedule?
Yes. Over every two weeks each parent has the children for seven overnights, so the year comes out at about 182 or 183 overnights each before holidays.
How many exchanges does a 2-2-5-5 schedule have?
Four every two weeks. A 2-2-3 schedule has six and alternating weeks has two, so 2-2-5-5 sits in the middle.
What is the difference between 2-2-5-5 and 2-2-3?
In 2-2-3 the weekdays switch every week, so Monday is sometimes with one parent and sometimes with the other. In 2-2-5-5 each parent always keeps the same two weekdays, and only the weekends alternate.
Who is a 2-2-5-5 schedule good for?
Parents who live close to each other and to school, and children who are old enough to handle a five-day stretch away from one parent. Fixed weekdays make after-school activities easier to plan.