New insights into the diseases of childhood, profound improvements and new developments in surgical techniques as well as the knowledge gained from long-term follow-up have altered the strategies and indications for urinary diversion in childhood. Continent urinary diversion is generally the method of choice. We are able to construct high capacity, low pressure reservoirs to protect the upper urinary tract and achieve continence. Nowadays, there is hardly any indication for permanent cutaneous urinary diversion. Temporary and intermediate cutaneous diversion are used only when serious conditions such as renal function deterioration occur. The possibility to convert any incontinent form of urinary diversion into a continent form changed the status of intermediate diversion. The indications for urinary diversion, the procedures available, the operative technique, a literature review, our own experience, contemporary strategies and controversies are described and discussed.