Police who found an Easton man in the back of a car with a sex worker went to his home to find his children home alone.
When they went back to his address to check his driving documents, they found his three children living in squalor.
The 33-year-old man, who Bristol Live is not naming to protect the identity of the children, pleaded guilty to three charges of causing cruelty to a child aged under-16.
Judge Martin Picton imposed a 12 months community order, with 20 days of rehabilitation and 80 hours unpaid work.
The judge told him:"I appreciate how deeply you feel shame and upset.
"This was misguided and unfortunate.
"Your circumstances were very poor at the time.
"It seems to me a community order is the right way forward here."
Julian Howells, prosecuting, said the defendant split with his partner but would have his three children aged below 16 stay with him a few days at a time.
Mr Howells told Bristol Crown Court that, at the time, the defendant had a room in a multi-occupancy house and had been warned by the landlord it was unsuitable for the three children to stay.
In October last year police noticed a known sex worker get into a car in Fishponds Road, which went to an area off the M32.
Police found the defendant had agreed to pay the woman for a sex act, and as a result police arranged to go back to his home to see his driving and insurance documents.
When they got there they found three young children.
Mr Howells said: "The room was very dirty, there was no ventilation and the three children were on a dirty mattress with a single blanket.
"There was dirty food utensils and clothing on the floor smelled of urine.
"There were no toys."
The defendant made no comment in interview, other than to say he had been "stupid".
Catherine Spedding, defending, said her client's contact with his children would be supervised in future.
She told the court: "He has moved now from that room.
"He has a flat of his own.
"He has worked and he intends to work when he is able to do so."
