Best Parenting Time Schedule for 3 Year Old?

I have 3 kids, and when we divorced the kids were 1,3 & 7. We were separated before that and my youngest didn't go for an overnighter until I was done nursing. My kids are now 5, 7 & 11 - we've been doing the same schedule with flexibility since then. Their dad has them every other weekend, and then every other Thursday on his off weekends. He also rotates Weds. nights to have some one on one time with each of the kids.
It's not easy, hang in there!

Hi, My son, who is now 8 was just turning 3 when our divorce was final spent time with his father in this way:
Tues, Thursday, 5-7 p.m for dinner every week, and on one week, Friday night thru Saturday afternoon, the next week it was Saturday morning thru Sunday afternoon. This worked for all of us because dad got three nights a week, one overnight a week and it was easy for my son to adjust. As he got older, we added time. My ex now lives out of state so my son spends 3 weeks a summer with him and Christmas?Thanksgiving on alternating years, but it all had to be gradual, the ex and I agreed to take it easy on our son, and he is a great well adjusted 8 year old now. Hope this helps. You should choose what you feel will be best for your son, talk to your ex about it if he will talk to you about it, and work together on it.

I'll tell you how we worked it out. My kids were 3 and 7 at the time of my divorce. My ex moved out of our neighborhood so I requested that I keep the kids Sunday night through Thursday night so they could go to the same school and let him pick them up after school on Friday nearly every weekend. We just traded the holidays every other year. This made it a whole lot easier for the kids as far as their schooling was concerned. Now that they are several years older and don't need their mother quite as much, they spend the summer weekdays with him and the summer weekends with me until school starts again.

2 important notes for you-- First, keep in mind that the greater number of overnights your ex has will reduce the amount of child support (if any) that he owes you. I personally think that younger children still really need their moms a lot more than their dads. You can always agree to change things later. Thats what we did without bothering to go back to court.

Second, don't make your son pack up everytime he goes to dad's. Both homes should offer him a set of his own clothing so he feels more like he lives in each place and is not just visiting. Also, let him take whatever toys he wants back and forth. These things have made life so much easier for all of us!

I would let your ex have as much time as he is requesting. This child needs his father and you are still co-parents even though you are divorced. I would say the three same nights would be the best instead of this every other weekend etc. Kids love predictability, routines and traditions. Hopefully you are putting the child's needs first and working together for what is best for him, both parents on a regular basis! Also if you can live close it will just make your life easier, and when he is ready for school you can enroll him in the neighborhood school and both be able to take him etc. Now the amount of time with each parent will affect your child support but please put your son first, he will adapt to the schedule. Keep an open dialogue with your ex and work together for what's best for your son.

Hi, I have been through this, 3 nights a week isn't bad, it would be better for your son to have a consistant schedule- kids need consitency especially when mom and dad live apart. e-mail me directly if you would like to talk more about it, unfortunatly I'm a pro.

I am not a pro, but my sister in law is going through this right now. Her kids are 9 and 10. They have decided on Wednesday-Saturday afternoon with Dad, and the rest with mom. This is partly due to work schedules. Each parent gets part of the weekend with them. Another friend with older kids did one week at a time with each parent. I don't think that would work as well for a younger child, though. Good luck.