How to build a custody schedule that both parents can keep
Start with the pattern, not the exceptions. Choose the rotation that matches your children's ages and your working weeks, set the date it begins and who has the children that day, and only then layer holidays on top. A schedule that is simple to remember is more likely to survive the first difficult month.
Send it to your co-parent, not just to yourself
A custody calendar only works when both parents see the same one. Use “Send to your co-parent” to share the link in whatever app you already message in. They can view it with their own colours, adjust it, and send a revised version back, without anyone creating an account.
From a calendar to a shared record
Once you agree on the pattern, PeaceParent keeps it in sync for both of you, handles change requests with a clear yes or no, and adds Tone Guard to every message so a quick swap request does not turn into an argument.
Questions parents ask
- Which custody schedule is best for young children?
- Younger children usually cope better with shorter gaps between seeing each parent, which is why 2-2-3 is popular for under-fives. Older children often prefer fewer handovers, so alternating weeks or 2-2-5-5 tend to suit school age. There is no single right answer; the pattern that both parents can keep to reliably is the one that works.
- Is this calendar legally binding?
- No. It is a planning tool. If you have a court order or a written parenting plan, that document takes precedence. Many parents use a calendar like this to agree the practical details before writing them down formally.
- Can I share the schedule without sharing names?
- Yes. The link contains only the pattern, dates and holiday rules. The names you type stay on your device. Your co-parent can add their own labels when they open the link.
- How do holiday arrangements work?
- A holiday rule overrides the normal rotation for a date range. You can make it a one-off, repeat it every year with the same parent, or alternate which parent has that period each year. Later rules override earlier ones if they overlap.
- Do you store my schedule?
- No. Everything is generated in your browser and encoded into the link. We keep no copy. If you lose the link, you can rebuild the schedule in under a minute.