sometimes I think I'm timing out my tama correctly because they beeped for attention but nothing seems wrong. but then they cry and lose a heart of happiness ? the last time I remember this, they were missing a heart of hunger but that was it.
On the connects, crying is the cue to use the "praise" option under disclipline, while a beep where they look fine is the cue to use "time out". You can also use time out if they ever return from a gift giving laughing mischievously when the other tama receives a poop/snake because on those occasions they did it on purpose.
Edit: you can also use praise if they beep and look grumpy! this mostly happens in the teenager stage iirc