What is a shared custody calendar?
It's the practical version of the parenting agreement: it turns what the parents agreed on (or what a judge ordered) into specific days. A good calendar instantly answers three questions: who the kids are with today, when the next handoff is, and what events are coming up this week.
The most common patterns are alternating weeks (7 days with each parent), 2-2-3 (a short rotation designed for young children), 5-2-2-5, 3-4-4-3, weekdays with one parent and weekends with the other, and every other day. Which one works best depends on the children's ages, the distance between homes and work schedules.
How to set it up in Family Bridge, step by step
- Go to the custody section and choose one of the predefined patterns: alternating weeks, 2-2-3, 5-2-2-5, 3-4-4-3, weekdays/weekends or every other day.
- Enter the start date and which parent goes first. The app generates the custody periods with a color for each parent.
- Add events to the shared calendar: there are 12 types (for example medical, school or activities), with recurrence, reminders and RSVP.
- Set safe exchange locations and coordinate each handoff: the other parent can accept, decline or counter-propose, and let you know if they're running late.
- Check the current and next period anytime, from your iPhone or the web app.
Who is it for?
- Parents with shared custody who need a single calendar instead of two schedules that don't match.
- Families with a visitation schedule and alternating weekends.
- Parents who want to stop arguing about dates over chat and switch to clear proposals the other parent accepts or declines.
What's free and what Pro adds
On the free plan you get every predefined pattern, up to 20 events per month, up to 3 exchange locations, and you can respond to any exchange proposal or event invitation. Family Bridge Pro (US$5.99/month or US$39.99/year; may vary by country) adds unlimited events, advanced recurring patterns, ICS calendar export and import, sync with your device calendar, and GPS-logged exchanges with photo and signature verification. See pricing.
Tips for a calendar that works
- Choose a simple, sustainable pattern: a schedule you stick to beats an ideal one that changes every week.
- At the start of the school year, add holidays, school breaks and special dates to avoid surprises.
- Propose changes in advance and through the app, not at the last minute over the phone.
- Use neutral, fixed exchange locations if handoffs tend to cause tension.
- To pick a pattern by age, see the guides on the blog; for how-to questions, visit the help center.