A protective hand covering has a flexible shell with an open end and a closed end, and a constricted region between the open and closed ends. The constricted region defines a passage for receiving the child's hand. The hand covering may be worn by an infant or small child during sleeping or other activities, A gripping material is disposed on an inside surface of the shell at the constricted region and around the passage. The gripping material has a coefficient of friction higher than a coefficient of friction of the material of the flexible shell, such that the hand covering is discouraged from coming off of the child's hand.