The 3 on / 3 off schedule runs on a 6-day cycle — 3 days with one parent, then 3 days with the other. A shorter rotation than 4-on-4-off, suitable for families wanting more frequent transitions, especially during early infancy or transitions from sole custody.
Children spend 3 consecutive days with Parent A, then 3 consecutive days with Parent B, repeating on a 6-day cycle. Like the 4-on-4-off, transition days shift each week because the cycle doesn't align with the 7-day week. Two transitions per cycle, no fixed weekday assignments.
Children on a 3-on/3-off see both parents every few days, which keeps the bond active but asks a lot of the family logistically. For toddlers and preschoolers, the short separations are usually a strength — no parent feels far away. For school-age kids, the shifting transition days create real friction with weekly routines (Tuesday soccer ends up at different homes each cycle), so most school-age families eventually move to a 7-day-aligned schedule like 2-2-3.
A family with a toddler and two parents who live a few minutes apart sometimes uses 3-on/3-off as the bridge schedule from sole custody — the short blocks let the secondary parent build the relationship without overwhelming a young child with long stretches in a less-familiar home.
Before locking in any custody schedule, walk through these prompts with your coparent. The schedule itself is the easy part — making it work over years requires alignment on the things below.
For school-age kids, switch to a 7-day-aligned schedule (2-2-3 for similar contact frequency, 2-2-5-5 for fixed weekdays) — the shifting transition days of 3-on/3-off don't play well with school routines. If you want longer blocks but keep the off-week rhythm, switch to 4-on/4-off. If your child is over 5 and adapting well, 2-2-3 gives nearly the same frequency with predictable weekly transitions.
Kidtime supports any custody arrangement — create your own pattern, set custom rotations, and track time automatically.