TV star accused of breastfeeding to maintain custody of her toddler son

US reality TV star Nicole Curtis is embroiled in a bitter custody dispute over her two-and-a-half year old son.

The 41-year-old Rehab Addict host gave birth to Harper in May 2015.

She initially refused to reveal who the father was but eventually identified him as businessman Shane McGuire with whom she had a brief relationship.

Curtis didn't even share the news of her pregnancy with her huge fan base, choosing to hide it for as long as possible.

Related video: Today host Deb Knight discusses the device issue that is breastfeeding

Of the decision Curtis said, "Having my newborn child’s face plastered all over social media, that wasn't for me.

"It wasn’t anything strategic," she explained.

"It was just one of those moments where I was like, this isn’t anyone else’s time and space; this is mine."

At first, Curtis raised her son alone however six months in McGuire asked for equal custody. The custody dispute has continued for two years.

Curtis is now being accused of continuing to breastfeeding Harper as a ploy to keep him away from his father, with a judge ordering her to stop.

"You're court ordered to not feed your exclusively breastfed child," she said. "It's important that children have both of their parents. But [preventing] me from breastfeeding my child just so he can see the dad is not right."

Curtis said her son, of whom she is still the primary carer, does eat other foods but breastfeeds during the night, switching between breasts.

"I don't sleep that well," she said. 

In an interview with People, the TV star explained her position on breastfeeding and attachment parenting, saying she physically couldn't produce enough milk by expressing so had to continue to breastfeed him.

"It's not like he's seven or eight," she said. "He's still a baby. Every single day I have to weather criticism about how my child is too old to breastfeed."

But she says she will let him wean when he is ready.

"It's going to be his decision. I truly believe it's the child's choice."  

Curtis and McGuire with son Harper. Image: Provided

Curtis lives in Detroit, Michigan where she films her hit home renovation show HGTV. McGuire has recently moved to the area in order to spend more time with his son.

The custody dispute has gotten so ugly that at one stage police were called after Curtis allegedly 'dragged' Harper away from his father to take him home.

It's not Curtis' first brush with law enforcement.

She has a son, Ethan, 19, from a previous relationship and fought for primary custody of him when he was four.

Father Steven Cimini fought back and the pair had to drop off and pick up their son at a police station because it had become so acrimonious.