Pediatric intensive care is now a subspecialty of pediatric medicine. Different pathologic and physiologic processes occur in pediatric patients who require intensive care. Thus, the faculty and staffing requirement differ in many aspects from those of adult intensive care units (ICUs). In Taiwan, pediatric intensive care is relatively less developed than adult care. However, thanks to the implementation of national health insurance and increasing emphasis of children's health, the scope and quality of pediatric intensive care has widened and rapidly improved. Research has shown that full time in-ICU staffing and patient care will result in improved outcomes for critically ill pediatric patients. In this article, we review the literature and recent advances in pediatric intensive care; we also outline the challenges arising. Special emphasis was made to the clinical context of Taiwan.