Treebeard vs. the Elves-who is older?

[Imperica]

It is very interesting indeed. Aule makes the dwarves, which are put to sleep because Eru wants the elves to be the eldest children. And then Yavanna complains because the trees are defenceless, and Eru promises her guards. The question is: did the guards, ents, wake up at that time, before the elves, or did they sleep until much later when they were needed for protection, e.g. when the dwarves or the orcs became a race?

How old races are doesn't really depend on when they awoke. The elves are still the first, they were probably sleeping. Ents vs Elves for the title of first-born, well this is quite simple. Why would the trees need defense when no children have awoken yet? So there really wouldn't be a reason for Ents to be running around guarding the trees when the Elves or Dwarves haven't even woke up yet.