Any tips for getting DS to stop hurting his baby brother?

[Sahkoora]

DS2 is 3, almost 4. He doesn't have a dx yet but it's looking like it will be ASD like DS1. He's developmentally delayed and has limited understanding and vocabulary, though this is improving.

I also have a 6 month old DS3, and DS2 will not leave him alone. I don't know if he thinks he's playing with him, but he never stops poking or prodding him. He's not at all gentle and often will poke his eyes or pull him roughly unless I'm constantly vigilant. He also tries to put toys or objects into his mouth or tries to lay on top of him. He'll also wake him up during nap time.

It's got to the stage where I can't go to the loo during the day without taking one of them with me. Household tasks are impossible; I have to watch them constantly as he could easily do DS3 serious harm.

I just can't get through to him about being gentle, or make him realise he might hurt DS3. I've tried punishments and praise, shown him how to be gentle a million times, but it just doesn't get through.

Anyone have any tips that have worked for them? I'm at my wits' end in a filthy house!

I used to use a baby bjorn carrier sling. It wasn't ideal but it mean I could get some chores done.

Can DS2 open or climb over stair gates?

I also used a baby sling too

Thank you for your suggestions. Unfortunately a sling is not an option at the moment as I have bad hips and wearing one really aggravates my pain.

He's pretty crafty with stair gates too sadly. We even had one that didn't open at all at one stage and he ended up kicking it out of the door frame.

I think maybe a cleaner might be the answer! ;)

We used a pressure fitted dog gate to keep our now 9 year out of the kitchen, until last summer. He sussed out the handle about 6 months before then, so we used removable cable ties on it. If it wasn't installed tightly enough, he could bust it out, but it did come with some cups that you could screw into the door frame to make it more secure. He never managed to climb it, because he couldn't get a foot high enough to hitch himself up - we installed it because he was climbing on the worktops.

Might be worth a try, at least for bathtimes.