Recent studies have shown that the use of anesthetics in early life may cause long‑term learning and memory impairment. Microglia may be involved in the cognitive impairment caused by general anesthesia. This review summarizes the development and activation process of microglia, the characteristics of the developing brain and the effects of microglia on developmental brain function. It is important to explore the regulation of microglia in the developing brain and their responses to specific anesthetics to reveal neurotoxicity induced by general anesthesia during the developmental period.