An Adelaide woman who left her three-year-old boy in a car on 41 degree day while she went shopping has escaped jail.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of aggravated creating risk of serious harm and placed on 12-month good behaviour bond.

The prosecution alleged she deliberately left her child in the car because she knew he would be in a bad mood if woken.

The court heard were it was not for the intervention of others he would likely have died.

District Court Judge Julie McIntyre said the woman was suffering from anxiety and depression at the time of the incident.

"It is clear from the two psychological reports ... the references tendered and my observations of you in court that you are a loving and caring mother. This incident was, I accept, an aberration," she said.

"Whilst you do not accept the jury verdict that you deliberately left your son in the car, you have expressed genuine remorse for your actions that day.

"You are very lucky that your son did not suffer any permanent ill-effects."

Judge McIntyre said while she believed imprisonment was warranted, there was good reason to suspend the sentence because the offending was at the lower end of seriousness for its type and it was fortunate the child was unharmed.

The court suspended the one-year jail sentence in favour of a bond.

 (via ABC news)