A mother stepped in when a Filton man tried to talk sexually to her boy.
Michael Greenhalgh asked if the 14-year-old was gay and acquired his mobile phone number, Bristol Crown Court heard.
His concerned mum took his phone and intercepted messages from Greenhalgh in which he referred to a sex act.
Greenhalgh, 41, of Holmdale Road, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
He also admitted attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.
The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC handed him a 19-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
He told Greenhalgh: "These are serious offences.
"It is important that you understand just how serious the court treats any sexual offence involving children.
"One cannot wipe out memories from a child's head."
Greenhalgh was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him reoffending.
He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and was barred from working with children.
Donald Tait, speaking via video link from Truro Crown Court, said police discovered that, in 2014, Greenhalgh communicated with a like-minded individual via dating app Grindr and messaging service Skype about doing a sex act in the presence of a specific boy aged 10.
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His approach of the 14-year-old boy was more recent, the court heard, but the child's mum intercepted sexualized messages to him which the judge described as "abhorrent".
The court heard that, as a result, the boy's family moved home at considerable expense.
John Stokes, defending, said: "I accept his behaviour was exploitative and concerning.
"There was no physical contact."
Mr Stokes said his client had mental health difficulties and emotional issues.
He told the court: "He asks me to convey he does fully accept responsibility for his offending, as reflected in the guilty pleas."
