If you smack it and give a good shake, you're good to go. No need to let it swell.
Could u just pour in the yeast then cut the nutrient pack and pour that in and mix it in the starter or do they have to b mixed in the pack first before pouring into the starter.
You can do that too, just make sure you get the nutrients in there
Haha, mine always swells if I shake and smack it like that.