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The 3-4-4-3 custody schedule

In a 3-4-4-3 schedule one parent has three nights and the other four, and the next week it flips, so each has seven nights in fourteen. The way the days fall means one parent has the weekend nights every week and the other has more weeknights.

nights each fortnight
7 / 7
nights each fortnight
handoffs a fortnight
4
handoffs a fortnight
longest stretch, nights
4
longest stretch, nights

Your 3-4-4-3 calendar

Pattern
First nights go to

3-4-4-3 schedule

Starts Monday 9 November 2026. Handoffs at 5:00pm. Made with ParentHelm.

Your year

3-4-4-3

50%
Parent A · 182 nights
50%
Parent B · 182 nights
Handoffs a month
8.6
Longest with Parent A
4 nights
Longest with Parent B
4 nights

The first four weeks

9Nov
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1Dec
2
3
4
5
6

Twelve months

  • Parent A
  • Parent B
  • Handoff day
November 2026
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
December
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
January 2027
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
February
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
March
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
April
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
May
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
June
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
July
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
August
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
September
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
October
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Keep it, and share it with the other parent

Free. Both of you see the same calendar, on any phone.

How a fortnight works

  1. Week one: Monday to Wednesday nights with parent A, Thursday to Sunday with parent B.
  2. Week two: Monday to Thursday with parent A, Friday to Sunday with parent B.
  3. Parent A always has Monday to Wednesday; Thursday alternates; parent B always has Friday to Sunday.

Who it suits

  • Parents whose work is weekday-heavy for one and weekend-heavy for the other.
  • Families who want equal time with only four handoffs a fortnight.

What to watch for

  • One parent never has a weekend at home with the children unless you add swaps. Many families agree to trade a weekend a month.
  • The parent with the weekdays does most of the homework and school mornings.

Making the weekends fairer

If both parents want weekend time, a straight 3-4-4-3 may not be the right base. Either use 2-2-3 or 5-2-2-5, where weekends alternate, or keep 3-4-4-3 and log a regular weekend swap each month. In ParentHelm a swap only changes the calendar once the other parent accepts it, and both of you can see when it was asked and answered.

Questions

Is 3-4-4-3 50/50?

Yes, seven nights each per fortnight.

Who gets weekends in 3-4-4-3?

As usually set up, the same parent has Friday to Sunday every week. Choose who starts in the builder to see it either way round.

Compare: 2-2-3 custody schedule, 5-2-2-5 custody schedule, Week on, week off, or see all schedules side by side.

ParentHelm keeps a dated record of your schedule, swaps, expenses and messages. It does not give legal advice, and it is not a court-approved or court-mandated service. For advice about custody or a parenting plan, talk to a family lawyer or mediator where you live.