DS bites himself when angry

[moosiemoo]

My 2yo son has had phases of biting others when angry at home and nursery, usually triggered by an ear infection, then he'll stop again after a few weeks. Recently though I've noticed that when he's angry he will have to bite something before he calms down - once it was the corner of the wall, a few times it has been his hand which he bit until he cried.
Both nursery and I ignore the biting and praise good behaviour - sticker charts etc, but 99% of the time he's lovely so it doesn't really work. He's also got really good language, so its not that he's having trouble communicating he's cross. Its more that he has such a short temper and biting himself is how he manages that.
Should I worry about the self-harming? Is it a phase? Really not sure how I go about addressing it or if I need to.

My son used to do this when he got frustrated.
He knew he wasn't allowed to hit me and did this instead.
It was a short lived phase as he hurt himself doing it.
My son was also good at expressing himself. I told him to tell me in words about how he was feeling, it helped a teeny bit perhaps.
Hope it's just a short phase like mine went through.

DS occasionally does this too. Again, it began at the time he stopped biting others - i'm assuming it's because he knows it's wrong to bite others but needs an outlet for his emotions somewhere. Try to see it as positive that what you are teaching him is sinking in, even if it is distressing to see them turn their anger/ frustration on themselves!

My DS nearly 5 hits his head with both hands when he's angry, frustrated or having a tantrum. He's getting better now but I used to react to it and make it worse. Now I ignore it - even when he is holding cars and doing it - and I can see out of the corner of my eye looking and wondering why I'm not reacting. Your DC is gaining attention, albeit negative, from biting himself. Ignore and praise good behaviour. The sticker idea is fab.