my son is 15months and lately he has started to hit/slap himself  in the face or side of head when he gets mad or flustrated...we(the hubby and I) hope that this is just a phase.

Does anyone elses toddler do this?

How did you get him/her to stop it?

How long does this phase last?

My daughter is 17 months, and does sometimes hit herself. she does ASL and when she does the sign for thank you (open palm to your chin, then lower it down) she will do it a couple times, then start hitting herself in the face and saying "OH, Oww". I am not sure why she does it, and i havent exactly gotten her to stop, she still does it. but i can get her to stop in the moment by taking her hands gently and telling her "no that's not nice, please dont hit yourself."

it seems to work at the time, but not so much for the long run. She doesnt really do it when she is mad though, she tends to prefer to hit other people when she gets mad. for that i do pretty much the same thing. "no Anna, we don't hit, it's not nice". and i hold her hands while i say it. it works sometimes, but other than that i am not sure what else would help you.

Does anyone elses toddler do this?

My daughter sometimes pull her hair, and hit other kids.  Toddler do this because they want to see the reaction they cause to others.  IF you make faces to him when he hits or slap himself, he is getting a reaction out you (good, bad, upset, laugh, angry. etc).  HE might has discovered what makes you react.  I am sure he does it when someone is around.  A few month ago he probably (my DD did) bumped accidentally his head against something, and after that he repeat the action, he was testing himself, he was discovering that bumping his head will made him feel something, or that hitting a dog or cat would made them jump.  This is all natural in toddlers, they are discovering themself, what are they capable of doing, and that their actions cause a reaction.

How did you get him/her to stop it?

When she used to pulls her hair I ignored her, I used to address the issue, but that would amuse her.  AT first I followed a friend's advice who has 2 kids, and she told me to ignore bad behaviour, or remove her from that situation and say "no we don;t hit/pulled/slap/etc".   I still follow her advice when my daughter throws food on the floor (I am still working on this one), but I started ignoring completely when she pulled her hair, at it worked , because she didn't get any reaction from me therefore she stop doing it.  She also used get her hand in the food and then touch all over her hair, at first I would get frustrated because I coudn;t catch her hands on time before touching the hair. She usually did this at the end of the meal, but one day I said "ok, do whatever you want, I'll just bath you after each meal". So I had the cleanest baby in the world.  She stop doing it but then started throwing food on the floor. I am still battleling on this one, because nomatter what I do, she still does it.  First I started just saying "we don;t throw food on the floor" then I removed myself from the eating area, I will do the dishes, read, etc and letting eat by herself, (because counting up to ten and breath wasn't working for me, I will still feel impotent and frustrated to see all the floor with food) 

Within the last 2 weeks I have changed tactics, I introduce time out. First after I say "no, no throwing food on the floor, grabbing her hand gently" with a serious face and a firm voice and if she still does it; then I just remove her from her chair, put her in the playpen for a couple minutes and sit her back. If she does it again then she is doing eating for the time. IT is very important not to yell in your voice, just firm, a contracts to what your voice usually sounds.

Now that she started hitting other kids but mainly to fight for toys, she is also getting a reaction from them as to cry or get a slap back.  IF the kid desn't react she won't hit again.  So you can imagine me as one of those moms that are after her child all the time trying to avoid her to hit others.  I remove her from the other kid, and I say " it is not nice to hit, it hurts, we don;t hit the friend, say you are sorry and give him/her a kiss" She would kiss and pad on the back. My daugther doesn't talk yet, she babbles a say a few words but she understands what I say.

How long does this phase last?

This is part of toddler behaviour, it will pass, it will take sometime until something new comes up.  You can only keep repeating "no we don;t hit, etc)  Just try always to teach him good manners, he will pick it up whe he starts to understant and communicate better. 

I read on an article that hitting, pulling hairs, throwing things, having tantrums is all part or being a toddler and part of their development, they are discovering themself, and since they can't communicate what they want the only way to let it all out if by emotions (tantrums) or what are they physically able (hitting), and that a kid won;t understant completely that they are hurting others or about the concept of sharing until they are almost 3 yrs old.

I think that all children engage in behaviors that might be termed "self stimulation" as they become aware of themselves as individuals. Usually toddlers cease to engage the behaviors in a few weeks or months. The younger (13mos.) of our to girls will rock herself rapidly in chairs or against the wall from time to time but can be redirected without too much difficulty.

Frustration is often a trigger for meltdowns. When they occur, we try to help the girls see that the meltdown or behavior doesn't resolve the issue and where possible we try to help them find a solution for themselves. For example if the goal is to reach something my wife will ask "Can you reach the cup with your stool?"

Your daughter's behavior sounds pretty normal and it seems like you are on top of it.

my daughter slaps the sides of her face when she has a ear infection im not sure if your kid does but better safe than sorry