A Long Island mom who in her co-ed days posed for Playboy is now working as a stripper in Manhattan to pay expensive legal bills in her battle to get custody of her 4-year-old son.

“I’m dancing to pay for justice, to get my baby back,’’ said a tearful Nicole Montiglio, 31, of Dix Hills.

Montiglio lost custody of her son, Sal, in November after a judge noted that she repeatedly reported that her estranged husband, Thomas, was abusing the child — claims never substantiated by investigators.

As a result, Sal was placed with her husband’s brother.

Montiglio claims that Sal told her his dad abused him while bathing him, but officials found no evidence. Thomas Montiglio declined to comment.

Nicole Montiglio’s lawyer, Leslie Barbara, said: “This is a case of ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ A mother seriously believes . . . there is . . . abuse . . . and custody is given to the father’s family.’’