What kind of joint custody schedule is best for my child?

Going through a divorce is uncharted territory for most families. You and your ex may have agreed to share custody of your child. However, when it comes time to divvy up the days you each get to spend with your child, fear and other emotions could make you inclined to push to claim the most time possible.

It’s worth taking a step back and understanding how the custody arrangement you select will impact your child. While, in most cases, a joint custody arrangement is in the best interest of the child, not all joint custody schedules work equally well for all age groups. It’s important to understand the differences, and keep in mind that your custody schedule may need to adapt as your child gets older.

Here are three of the most common joint custody schedules:

• 2-2-3: Under this arrangement, your child stays with you on Monday and Tuesday, with your ex on Wednesday and Thursday, then back with you Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The following week, the schedule flips.
• 2-2-5: With this schedule, your child would spend every Monday and Tuesday with you, and every Wednesday and Thursday with your ex. The Friday-Sunday timeslot would alternate back and forth between you and your ex.
• Alternating weeks: Your child spends one full week with you, then one full week with their other parent.

Since children of different ages have different needs, some of these arrangements tend to work better with certain age groups. Child development specialists have found that young children tend to benefit from regular transitions. The 2-2-3 arrangement tends to work well for this age group. As your child gets older and starts to get involved in sports or other hobbies, the 2-2-5 arrangement can work well to keep track of their regularly scheduled activities. In adolescence, when your child is more self-sufficient, you and your ex may choose to transition to an alternating weeks schedule.

Settling on a joint custody schedule with your ex may seem nerve-racking. But understanding how to choose a plan that best supports your child’s needs can help.