Hi wommie. I also read your other post about nightmares. I don't have children, and I'm sure you have heard this before, but I think since you had a child less than a year ago it's probably hormones plus lack of sleep from having to take care of a baby.

The dreams about coyotes attacking you or stealing your child seem to have to do with the natural instinct of you as your mother to want to protect your young. Because you have personal experience with coyotes doing this, seeing them attacking calves, your dreams are about coyotes.

I think avoiding sleep to avoid the dreams might make it worse, because of the extra stress from the lack of sleep.

Can you try repeating to yourself during the day and before you go to sleep that they're only dreams and the coyotes can't hurt you or your baby. In your dreams, do you fight the coyotes? Maybe before you go to sleep you can imagine having some kind of weapon with you so you can fight them off.

Have you had recurring nightmares before in your life, or did it only happen after the birth of your child? (Is this your first child?)

Have you suffered from post partum depression?

Are you in a situation in waking life where there is a real danger of your child being taken or hurt? If you have a legitimate concern, then you should think about how you can deal with it so it doesn't cause you problems at night.