Any advice on stopping 3 year old waking baby?

[Fispi]

My 3.5 year old is lovely with 5 month old, but is affecting DC2s sleep. 3 year old is just about mostly sleeping through (it's been hard work getting to 7pm-6am sleep) but wakes up at 6am and wakes every body else up too. It could be just toddler stage whispering, or full on crying because DC1 wants a wee/to go downstairs/wants the other parent. DC2 has been waking at 4:30 am, feeding then not settling till 6am so is woken up by DC1. DC2 wakes really easily to any noise from DC1 so naps are often interrupted unless DC1 is out or napping in moving pram/carrier. This has been since the 4 month regression hit. Its still a massive improvement on DC1s sleep at this age as there are blocks if 3 hr sleep at night but we are all quite tired! Any ideas or is this just a 'this stage will pass' thing?

You cant realistically stop your 3 year old from behaving like a toddler. The things you mention when he wakes are just the normal stuff of family life. Either just accept that somewhere just after 6am is family wake up time, or the other parent needs to be much more on-the-ball and get to the toddler immediately upon waking and take him downstairs out of the way of baby.

Likewise with daytime naps, it's unfair (and unreasonable) to have to keep a toddler quiet because of baby's sleep. It is better instead to focus on baby and helping baby learn to sleep through the noise of toddler siblings.

Speaking as a mum of four, the bouncy chair is your friend for baby naps. Park it at your feet with baby in, then sit on the sofa and bounce with your foot. This gives you hands and lap free to play with toddler, also your frees up your attention for toddler (since tapping your foot on the bouncer takes no attention), while also allowing perpetual movement to help baby sleep.

The more baby does it the more they'll get used to sleeping with the noise of the TV and toddler chaos around them.

Thank you @FATEdestiny for a dose of common sense. Sleep deprivation addles my brains! I feel more sensible after a better night. To be honest I don't mind getting up at 6am, but I do mind being awake at 4:30am with baby so that's what I need to work on. Bouncy chair is no good as baby hates it but I got the same result with the pram rocking back and forth today.

If dc1 enjoys responsibility you could make it their very important and grown-up job to make sure no-one wakes the baby. It won't work all the time but might help a bit!

I can see DC1 taking great pleasure in anything that involves being in charge @RiaOverTheRainbow

Hello I’m in the exact same boat with dc1 (2.5) who wakes at 5:30 and dc2 (16 weeks) who wakes through the night. DH and I have decided to divide and conquer. I’m in the spare room with DC2 and DH deals with DC1. To combat noise I have the white noise on loud and this largely seems to work. Daytime naps are a different kettle of fish - DC1 is dropping his naps and DC2 unfortunately just has to put up with it. I wear her in the sling and she eventually drops off! This too shall pass. I hope. Lol.

Forgot to add, DH whips DC1 downstairs and sticks on peppa pig while me and DC2 snooze. Not ideal but we need peppa to survive right now

I second white noise. Definitely helped my youngest sleep through the noise of older sibling waking at stupid o’clock.