Sevoflurane is the most commonly used inhalation general anesthetic for induction and maintenance of anesthesia in neonates and children. However, a large number of clinical and basic studies have pointed out that sevoflurane may cause damage to the brain development of young children. Through consulting the relevant basic and clinical research data, this review summarized clinical and basic research evidences of sevoflurane-induced brain damage in children, as well as possible mechanisms including abnormal phosphorylation of Tau protein, inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation by oxidative stress, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, PERK-eIF2a-ATF4-CHOP signaling pathway and the regulation of p53-microRNA to miRNA-34c. We also further discussed the possible mechanism of anesthetic damage to the developing brain so as to provide reference for taking measures for brain protection in clinical practise.