Missing toddler Ethan Williams's grandmother and her boyfriend have been warned they face jail for lying about his disappearance.
Judge Stephen Wildblood issued his warning after concluding that both Louise Minnock and Andrew Butt were in contempt of court.
Mrs Minnock's daughter Rebecca Minnock, 35, fled her home in Highbridge, Somerset, with three-year-old Ethan two weeks ago following a court order that he should live with his father, Roger Williams.
She has defied pleas to come forward, prompting Judge Wildblood to issue an assurance today about her future access to Ethan.
But the judge also delivered a stern warning to her mother and Mr Butt after hearing Mr Butt admit he had helped Miss Minnock flee.
The judge, sitting at Bristol Crown Court, said: "I am satisfied so that I can be sure Mrs Minnock has committed a serious contempt of court and I intend to move on with punishment.
"In relation to Mr Butt he has committed a serious contempt of court. His is more grievous then hers in that he took the mother to Cheltenham.
"At the moment I am considering imprisonment for them both."
Earlier, in a message to Miss Minnock, he said: "The strain on this mother now must be immense and, from what I know at present, it appears that matters have simply snowballed from an impulsive decision made by her on 27th May 2015."
The judge said "nature, case law and common sense" demand that courts recognise the importance of both parents having a relationship with Ethan.
"Everything possible will be done to ensure that Ethan has an effective relationship with both of his parents," he added.
The court heard that Mrs Minnock had deceived police about what she knew about her daughter's disappearance.
Mr Butt, 56, was found to be in contempt of court during evidence at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.
He was due to be sentenced by Judge Wildblood for that contempt but asked to be sworn back into the witness box to change his account.
The long-distance lorry driver swore an oath on the Bible - unlike yesterday when he chose to affirm - before admitting he had helped Miss Minnock flee with Ethan.
He said he had met the mother of one at her home in Highbridge, Somerset, on the evening of May 26, the day before she was due before the family court, and dropped Miss Minnock and Ethan in Cheltenham, where her aunt Anna Peters lives.
He insisted Miss Minnock did not tell him where she would take Ethan so he would not be able to tell police if arrested.
"We didn't expect it to explode in the manner it has exploded. Now it is finished, she can't hide so I think the best thing to do now is to get back in touch with Becky and get her picked up and start this all again."
Mr Butt apologised to the judge and his legal team for "doing nothing but lie" to them and said he wished to make amends.
"I swear I don't know where Becky is at this point in time," he said. "That doesn't mean I can't find out.
"She can trust me. She knows I care for Ethan. I have taken her this far, I can bring her back - it is that simple."
Miss Minnock has contacted a number of newspapers to say she fled because she felt "trapped" and while she has thought about giving herself up, each time she looks at her son she thinks she "can't do that".