New Brunswick Parenting Time Schedules

A parenting time schedule helps you keep track of when your child should be with each parent.

A schedule is one part of your parenting plan, though some parents choose to do without a set schedule and fall into a routine instead.

Choosing a schedule

Adjusting to a schedule isn't always easy for children. For this reason, it's recommended that you choose a schedule that reflects how much time your child is used to spending with each parent.

If one parent has cared for your child primarily...

Try a 90/10, 80/20 or 70/30 majority parenting time schedule. In this arrangement, the parent who spends less time with the child is called the access parent.

A daytime-only (90/10) schedule can help ease the child into spending time with an access parent they are not used to living with. You may choose to implement a step-up parenting plan to gradually increase the access parent's time.

The alternating weekends (80/20) schedule places the child with the access parent every other weekend. It's a good schedule to ease your child into spending overnights with the access parent.

If the child is used to seeing both parents every week, consider a 5/2 (70/30) schedule. The child lives with one parent five days of the week and with the access parent two days of the week.

If both parents have cared for your child significantly...

Try a 60/40 or 50/50 shared parenting time schedule.

The 4-3 (60/40) schedule puts the child in one parent's home for four days of the week and in the other parent's home for three days. It can work well for a child who wants to spend time with both parents during the week.

The 2-2-5-5 (50/50) schedule also allows the child to see both parents each week, and it gives the parents equal time. It has your child spend two days at each parent's home, then five days at each parent's home.

If the child is comfortable, they can spend extended periods of time with each parent. The alternating weeks (50/50) schedule has the child living in each parent's home for one week at a time.

Holidays and vacations

Holidays and vacations allow parents quality time with their children free from school and work obligations.

Commonly, parents alternate holidays yearly.

Splitting holidays is another option. For example, you can split the three-day weekend if the holiday falls on a Monday.

Vacations allow a lot of flexibility. One way to handle vacations is to allot each parent a certain amount of time each year.

The easiest way to make a schedule

If you're like most parents, creating a parenting time schedule will feel daunting. How do you address holidays, school breaks and birthdays while ensuring the schedule will work in the years to come?

The Custody X Change app makes it easy. First, click and drag in your colour-coded calendar.

Then watch as your choices automatically apply to future years and a full description appears in your Custody X Change parenting plan.

The combination of a visual and written schedule means your family will have no problem knowing who has the child when. Take advantage of Custody X Change to make your schedule as clear and thorough as can be.