A WOMAN who left her toddler son in an unattended pram at a taxi stand outside a shopping centre was placed on 18 months' supervised probation on Tuesday.

Under the probation order, the 32-year-old woman has to take her medication regularly and go for follow-up treatment and counselling.

Her husband, a 28-year-old security offer, who was in court, signed a $5,000 bond to ensure her good behaviour.

The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, was originally charged with child abandonment, which carries a jail term of up to seven years' jail and a fine.

But she admitted to a reduced charge of wilful neglect of a child under 12 in the Community Court last month.

Putting a child in a situation that endangers him or her is an offence under the Children and Young Persons Act, which is punishable with a fine of up to $4,000 or a jail term of up to four years, or both.

The court heard that she left her son in a baby pram unattended near the taxi stand of Tiong Bahru Plaza last Sept 11.

A passer-by saw the toddler and alerted a security officer, who later called the police.

The accused's lawyer, Mr Noor Mohamed Marican, had said his client made use of the child to get the attention of her husband who had neglected her.

The couple have agreed to go for marital counselling, and are applying for a new Housing Board flat. Community Court judge May Mesenas will review the case in three months.