Updated September 2026
3-4-4-3 is a 50/50 rotation that spreads transitions out further than 2-2-3 while still keeping a two-week repeating rhythm. It's a common recommendation for families who want fewer handoffs than 2-2-3 without jumping all the way to full-week blocks.
Over a two-week cycle: 3 days with one parent, then 4 days with the other, then 4 days back with the first, then 3 days with the other. A worked example starting on a Monday:
Add it up: Parent A gets 3+4=7 nights, Parent B gets 4+3=7 nights — an exact 50/50 split over the 14-day cycle, with only 4 handoffs total across the two weeks (versus roughly 6-8 for 2-2-3). As with the other rotating patterns, the exact days of the week shift depending on your real start date — preview your own dates in the planner, and see how this works for the underlying mechanics.
3-4-4-3 gives each parent at least one full weekend every two weeks (unlike 2-2-3, where weekend blocks alternate but are shorter relative to the total cycle) while capping any single stretch away from a parent at 4 days — shorter than a full week, longer than 2-2-3's 3-day maximum. It's often described as a middle ground between the frequent-contact but transition-heavy 2-2-3 and the low-transition but longer-gap week-on/week-off.
Because the block lengths differ (3 vs. 4 days) rather than staying fixed, the schedule can be slightly harder to describe to young children in simple terms than "every week is the same" patterns. It also means each parent's weekday routine shifts slightly week to week — the days you have the kids on Week 1 aren't the same days as Week 2 — which some families find less predictable for recurring activities like specific weekday sports practices.
If 3-4-4-3's shifting block lengths feel less predictable than you'd like, 2-2-5-5 keeps the same two weekdays fixed for each parent every single week while still alternating a 5-day block. If you want more frequent contact and don't mind more handoffs, 2-2-3 shortens the maximum gap to 3 days. If fewer transitions matter most, week on/week off goes to one handoff per week.
Because the block lengths flip (3-then-4 one week, 4-then-3 the next), it's easy to lose track of which "version" of the week you're in without a visual reference — this is one pattern where printing or syncing the actual calendar tends to matter more than memorizing the rule. See app vs. printable for the two ways to keep the schedule visible day to day, whether that's a phone reminder or a page on the fridge.
Enter your names, choose "3-4-4-3" as the pattern, and set your real start date in the planner above to see the exact calendar this produces, print it, or export it to iCal.
Is 3-4-4-3 always exactly 50/50? Yes — every complete 14-day cycle splits 7 nights and 7 nights.
Does each parent always get a weekend? Yes, on this rotation each parent has at least one full weekend within the two-week cycle.
How is 3-4-4-3 different from 2-2-3 if both are 50/50 with weekly weekends? 2-2-3's shortest block is 2 days and its longest is 3; 3-4-4-3's shortest block is 3 days and its longest is 4 — so 3-4-4-3 has fewer total handoffs per two-week cycle while still guaranteeing each parent a weekend.
Is this legal advice? No — it's a planning tool, not a substitute for a court-approved parenting plan. Confirm any real arrangement with a qualified family-law professional.